Netanyahu Weighs Digital Primaries for Likud

Haaretz campaign removed from billboards after pressure from Netanyahu lawyer

In a letter to Haaretz, Likud Ilan Bombach threatened and argued that the campaign constituted prohibited election propaganda. Haaretz said in response that the move was 'an attempt to use election laws to silence a critical media outlet'

Netanyahu weighs digital primaries for Likud

The Prime Minister is considering shifting Likud to a digital voting system for its primaries. The idea follows his favorable impression of the online primary held by The Democrats party.

Netanyahu Weighs Digital Likud Primaries Amid Security Concerns

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is considering holding the Likud party’s next primary election through a secure digital voting system, driven largely by concerns that a deteriorating security situation could disrupt traditional in-person voting. According to a report Tuesday evening by Kan News, Netanyahu was impressed by the Democratic Party’s recent digital primary process, which reportedly featured robust security measures and exceptionally high voter participation. While the possibility of a security escalation is the primary factor behind the proposal, those close to Netanyahu believe digital voting offers additional long-term advantages that could make it attractive even under normal circumstances. Among the most significant benefits cited are the potential to save the party millions of shekels and to reduce the influence of organized pressure groups that traditionally wield considerable power at physical polling stations. The leading advocate for the initiative is Likud Acting Director-General David Sharan, who discussed the concept during a radio interview earlier Tuesday. At this stage, Netanyahu has reportedly presented the idea only as a contingency plan in the event of a serious security emergency. However, people close to him believe the proposal could eventually become a realistic option even if the security situation remains stable. Earlier this week, the Likud Party Tribunal rejected efforts to create a mechanism that would allow the primaries to be canceled in the event of an emergency. The tribunal ruled that the primary election must proceed as scheduled, declaring, “Likud is not a party of one man, and it will lose its vitality if it becomes one. There is no room to open even the smallest door in advance to canceling the primaries.” {Matzav.com}