Likud Primaries Recount: Be'er Ya'akov Ballot Dispute

A senior Likud official has characterized irregularities surrounding a ballot box in the central Israeli city of Be'er Ya'akov as "a criminal event," according to political correspondent Yuval Karni of Yedioth Ahronoth, who reported the comment on Wednesday.

The party's election committee convened Tuesday evening to address allegations of irregularities, data entry errors, and discrepancies discovered in several polling stations during the recent Likud primaries, errors that could affect candidates' positions even in the realistic slots on the party's Knesset list. The committee subsequently ordered another recount of votes from the Be'er Ya'akov ballot box. Final results will be incorporated after appeals are heard on Thursday.

At the center of the controversy is a tight race for the party's third women's quota seat, positioned at number 25 on the list, between incumbent MK Gila Gamliel and MK Eti Atia, who is backed by Minister Haim Katz.

Atia's team continues examining ballot boxes where discrepancies emerged between official protocols and data entered into the computer system. According to current tallies, she has already overtaken fellow MKs Amit Halevi and Avihai Boaron in the rankings. Should significant errors be confirmed in the Be'er Ya'akov ballot box as well, the outcome could directly impact her contest with Gamliel.

The close battle between the two women over the third women's slot on the list is expected to continue roiling the party in coming days. Given the mutual accusations and alleged irregularities, the final decision on which MK will secure the realistic seat has been transferred to the movement's internal court, which has now ordered the additional recount.