Likud leadership battle delays World Zionist Congress, complicates coalition talks
An internal rift between World Likud factions is delaying elections and disrupting coalition talks for key positions at the World Zionist Congress, with both sides accusing each other of obstruction.
An internal dispute between factions in World Likud is disrupting the ability for other lists in the World Zionist Congress to develop coalition agreements for positions in Israel’s National Institutions, with two separate Likud factions negotiating with for top jobs.
The World Likud faction is headed by World Zionist Organization Chairman Yaakov Hagoel, and the Likud Israel faction is led by Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar. Both are contenders for leadership for the World Likud, and both accuse one another of delaying the World Likud Conference and election due to the other’s supposed fear of losing.
Yet it was Zohar that on Friday pushed for elections before the WZC began on Tuesday, according to a statement by World Likud Election Committee head Sara Frish. Frish said that Hagoel World Likud’s had rejected the call on Sunday, citing concerns over a rushed process.
The delay is the latest in a series of conference delays and disputes about the process. Many delegates in Israel and the Diaspora have seconded Zohar’s call for an election amid concern about WZC negotiations.
Frish said in a Sunday statement to the movement’s leadership that there would not be an election on Monday, but argued that there was no obstacle in holding the conference. The committee was a body that regulated proceedings and not a judicial branch that could not force the World Likud to hold an election, but Frish said that the Election Committee was ready to open the ballot boxes as soon as requested.
World Zionist Organization head Hagoel Yaakov. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
The World Likud had asserted on Sunday that there were problems in rushing the democratic process, because it would harm the ability of delegates to participate.
Zohar alleged that Hagoel’s faction was preventing the elections due to his weakened status in the movement — A situation corroborated by other sources within the WZC. Allies of Hagoel have reportedly waffled between factions, culminating in Zohar’s claim that MK David Bitan is running with him. A spokesperson for Hagoel denied that this was the case. Bitan’s spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also reportedly backed Zohar’s leadership bid.
The lack of elections and WZC coalition negotiations have complicated one another, and Zohar’s office warned that the internal disputes put the Likud in a compromised negotiation position.
‘The World Likud is not a job enterprise but a Zionist enterprise’
“The people of the World Likud are demanding roles from me in negotiations on the holding of the conference — I am not ready for such blackmail.” said Zohar. “The World Likud is not a job enterprise but a Zionist enterprise and is important in connecting with Diaspora Jewry. The attempt to postpone the conference is contrary to the path of the Likud movement, it is not the path of the Betar movement, and the World Likud Conference must be held as soon as possible.”
The Eighth World Likud Conference had been planned for August 14, but was delayed until September to accommodate the World Zionist Organization in France’s elections. At the same time, disputes arose about the Likud electoral process. World Likud desired anonymous electronic votes for the first time, while Zohar wanted an open vote. Zohar alleged that some countries’ branches were not official Likud bodies.
The delegates were also in dispute, with some submitted by virtue of their office. There was further disagreement about who would represent the Zionist Organization of America at the conference.
The legal disputes delayed the conference, but were resolved by the Likud Israel Court on October 8, according to Frish. The conference was scheduled for October 19, and a list of candidates was finally published. The day before the conference, the World Likud announced another request for a delay.
