Legal affairs correspondent Avishay Greentzaig publicly challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday over the justifications presented to Likud's internal tribunal for granting protected list positions to certain party members, exempting them from competing in primary elections.
The explanations were submitted by Likud legal counsel Bombek and party director-general Sharan to justify why Defense Minister Israel Katz and Minister Haim Katz should receive "shields"—guaranteed spots on the party's Knesset list without facing a primary vote.
Regarding Haim Katz specifically, Netanyahu's official explanation stated: "Minister Haim Katz's many years of contribution to the movement and the state, his public and party experience, his long period of Likud membership, and his status as one of the veteran and experienced figures in the movement's leadership—all these were substantive considerations that formed the basis of the party chairman and prime minister's decision to propose that Haim Katz be included among the candidates for a shield on the Likud list for the 26th Knesset."
Greentzaig responded sarcastically to this reasoning, writing: "Credible. No connection whatsoever to the fact that Katz chairs Likud's constitution committee, which tailored the shield approval process for Bibi."
The journalist added pointedly: "I appreciate the prime minister's courage to lie so brazenly in section 26," referring to the numbered justification in the tribunal submission.
