The Battle Over the Slot for Haim Katz: Netanyahu's Circle Feared Disqualification - and Unusual Pressure Was Felt
The Likud court issued an interim order halting the slot for Haim Katz, and at yesterday's hearing Katz participated via Zoom. In Netanyahu's circle there was unusual pressure over fears of disqualification. Katz argued that his struggle for women's representation did not succeed, and therefore he should not be punished. The assessment is that the slot will be approved.
The battle over the slot for Haim Katz reached the Likud court, after an interim order was issued halting the move. At yesterday's hearing, Katz did not attend in person and participated via Zoom from his granddaughter's officers' course. He presented his work as chairman of the Likud Central Committee and as a minister in several government ministries, and emphasized his struggle for women's representation on the list, which he claims did not succeed and therefore he should not be punished. Sources in Netanyahu's circle expressed concern over the disqualification of the slot and described unusual pressure. In internal discussions, the possibility that Katz would run in the primaries was considered, but it was rejected. The current assessment is that the slot will be approved, but sources in Likud are already raising a demand for a frontal discussion in the secretariat regarding Netanyahu's next slots.