Likud Court President: 'We Helped Netanyahu with Things Not Exactly According to the Constitution'

Likud court president Michael Kleiner admits in an interview that he helped Prime Minister Netanyahu with slots on the party list using 'creative methods' that provided a 'democratic veneer' for actions not 'exactly according to the constitution.' He reveals a secret letter from Netanyahu justifying the slot for Israel Katz for security reasons, and defends the decision despite internal criticism.

Likud court president and former MK Michael Kleiner revealed in an interview with Ynet that he was a confidant in the surprising slotting of Israel Katz and Haim Katz on the Likud list for the 26th Knesset. According to him, he helped Netanyahu using 'creative methods' that gave a 'democratic veneer' to actions not 'exactly according to the party's constitution.' Kleiner revealed a secret letter sent by Netanyahu to the court, in which he justified the slot for Katz citing the 'complex security situation.' He defended the decision, arguing that a defense minister cannot run a regular primary campaign during such a period, and claimed that public criticism proved the necessity of the slot. Kleiner, who is sometimes considered an oppositionist to the prime minister, dismissed claims of cynical use of state security, saying he cannot elaborate on the matter. He also spoke about his successful opposition to the establishment of an organizing committee, and his complex relationship with Netanyahu, whom he compared to a 'player' who praises the court when decisions suit him.