Likud officials accuse Foreign Minister Sa'ar of blackmailing PM Netanyahu

Senior Likud officials claim that Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar is blackmailing Prime Minister Netanyahu by demanding an additional reserved slot for MK Michal Bouskila at the 30th spot on the Likud list, in exchange for transferring party funding money to Likud. The affair unfolds amid primary battles and concerns within Likud over losing significant funding.

Senior Likud officials and associates of the Prime Minister accuse Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar of blackmail, after he demands an additional reserved slot for MK Michal Bouskila at the 30th spot on the Likud list, in exchange for transferring the party funding money of New Hope to Likud. The affair unfolds amid primary battles and the merger agreement between Likud and New Hope, signed in March 2025 but not yet finally approved by the Knesset. The concern in Likud is about rogue MKs who might exploit a loophole in the law to split off and receive separate funding. MK Sharren Haskel petitioned the High Court of Justice demanding her funding unit, and the court ruled that the respondents must respond by Sunday. The amount involved is about 9.9 million shekels. Likud fears losing significant funding if Haskel wins her petition, and other senior members may also demand their money. Sa'ar denies the allegations and stated that "there is no basis to the claims."