Court Halts Katz's Reserved Likud Seat

The tribunal acted on a petition filed by attorney Aviad Visoli. "Regarding the reservation for Minister Haim Katz, the petitioner claims conflict of interest and essentially a political quid pro quo for approving the reservations," the court's decision stated.

The ruling continued: "However, unlike the situation with the decisions concerning the reservations for Ministers Sa'ar and Israel Katz, these reasons remain unclear at this time. In contrast, the petitioner's claims merit examination. Therefore, to prevent claims of reliance, I order that the secretariat's vote on approving Minister Haim Katz's reservation be postponed until another decision by the tribunal. The movement's legal advisor and Minister Haim Katz shall submit a response to the petition and the request for an interim order within 24 hours."

Katz's reservation has been viewed as particularly ironic. Just a week ago, he was considered the biggest loser from the tribunal's dramatic decision to cancel the option for sitting ministers and Knesset members to compete in regional districts. Katz, who served as chairman of Likud's central committee and the constitutional committee, had pushed this move designed to create a safer path for Knesset members close to him, including Eti Atia and Keti Shitrit.

Yet it now appears Katz had primarily looked after himself. Rather than facing the consequences of that defeat and competing before Likud members, he was set to receive a reservation from Netanyahu up to the 18th spot on the list. As one commentator wrote: "The Knesset members who fought under him remained on the battlefield; the commander received an evacuation helicopter."

The central argument in the petition focuses on the glaring conflict of interest: Katz chaired the constitutional committee that approved the reservation mechanism while simultaneously benefiting from that same mechanism. Petitioners argue this represents a fundamental flaw in the process requiring the vote on his reservation to be halted pending full examination.

Likud's internal tribunal, which has already demonstrated willingness in recent weeks to intervene in party institutional decisions, has now decided to issue an interim order. The decision leaves Katz's reservation in doubt and raises questions about Netanyahu's ability to implement his full planned list of reservations. The party conference had approved eight reservations for Netanyahu in various list positions. Gideon Sa'ar and Haim Katz were to be included within that quota, while Israel Katz received a separate special track justified by the need for him to focus on security matters. With the interim order against Haim Katz's reservation, the entire arrangement could become entangled in additional legal complications.

The reservation saga unfolds against the backdrop of an anticipated brutal battle for spots on the national list. After the tribunal disqualified the option for ministers and Knesset members to compete in regional districts, dozens of sitting Knesset members will be forced to compete directly for national spots in what is expected to be among the most crowded contests in Likud history.

Political observers estimate that approximately 15 sitting Likud Knesset members will fail to retain their seats in the next Knesset. The reservations Netanyahu seeks to grant further reduce the number of spots open to genuine competition, intensifying tensions within the party. The tribunal's interim order adds another layer of uncertainty ahead of the planned primaries. The central question now is whether the tribunal will ultimately approve Katz's reservation or determine that the conflict of interest is too serious to overlook. The answer could affect not only Katz's fate but also Netanyahu's ability to shape the list according to his wishes.