Likud Court Freezes Haim Katz's Slot on Party List Amid Conflict-of-Interest Claims

The Likud party court issued an interim order freezing the Likud Secretariat's vote on approving the slot of Minister Haim Katz on the party's Knesset list, until a further decision. The ruling stated that, unlike the slots for Sa'ar and Israel Katz, the reasons for Katz's slot were not presented. A petition was filed against the slot alleging conflict of interest and political quid pro quo. The Likud's legal adviser and Katz were required to respond within 24 hours.

The Likud party court issued an interim order today (Tuesday) instructing the immediate freezing of the Likud Secretariat's vote to approve the slot of Minister Haim Katz on the party's Knesset list. The decision stipulated that the Secretariat's vote regarding Katz would be frozen and would not proceed, even if it had already begun, until a further decision is made. The ruling stated: "I am close to certain that there are weighty reasons that led the party chairman to decide on the slot for Minister Haim Katz," but "unlike the situation with the decisions regarding the slots of Ministers Sa'ar and Israel Katz, these reasons are unknown at this time." A petition was filed against the slot, alleging conflict of interest and political quid pro quo for approving the slots. The court determined that the petitioner's claims "deserve examination." The Likud movement's legal adviser and Minister Haim Katz were required to submit their responses to the petition and the request for the interim order within 24 hours. The court secretariat instructed that the Likud's director be notified immediately of the interim order and to ensure that the Secretariat's vote on approving the minister's slot would not continue.