Netanyahu defies Likud tribunal deadline, plans last-minute slate reveal

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defied a 9 p.m. Monday deadline set by Likud’s internal tribunal to reveal his proposed candidates for reserved positions on the party’s Knesset slate. Despite warnings from the tribunal that non-compliance could lead to a secret ballot in the party secretariat, Netanyahu plans to release the list Tuesday morning, arguing it provides “several sufficient hours” for review before a postponed 2 p.m. secretariat meeting. Likud’s legal adviser, Ilan Bombach, criticized the tribunal’s “unreasonable and disproportionate” timetable. The delay stems from Netanyahu’s search for an electoral “game changer” and his preference for last-minute political decisions, with the final candidate lists due to the Central Elections Committee by 10 p.m. Tuesday.