Likud Israel court can intervene in Likud affairs, marks success for Minister Zohar

Such a battle hasn’t occurred in the World Likud in the past 20 years.

The Likud court has ruled that the Likud court of Israel has jurisdiction to intervene in the affairs of the World Likud. This decision came despite the fact that lawyers of the World Likud vehemently denied the jurisdiction of the Likud Court of Israel to discuss matters that concern the World Likud.

This was revealed exclusively to The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

World Likud is the international wing of the Likud party that connects supporters of Likud outside of Israel with the party in Israel. It organizes conferences (the World Likud Conference) and programs for diaspora engagement.
Within World Likud is the Likud Court, which is the highest judicial organ inside the party.

On Wednesday, a hearing took place to resolve various disputes relating to a larger fight over the World Likud.

The hearing was held in the Supreme Court of the Likud between the candidates for the leadership of the World Likud, Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar, and Yaakov Hagoel, chairman of the World Zionist Organization.

The process began after Minister Zohar found irregularities in the election process of the World Likud, including a dispute between the parties over what would be the identity of the delegates who will vote in the World Likud Conference, which determines who will lead the movement in the next five years.

There were three main disputes: firstly, Minister Zohar believes some countries do not have an official branch of the World Likud.

Second, the World Likud wants to, for the first time, carry out elections secretly and electronically, while Minister Zohar wants the vote to be open.

Third, the fact that some delegates were submitted by virtue of office by the World Likud contrary to the constitution of the Likud, needs to be resolved.

Finally, the main dispute between the parties was over who will be the delegates submitted to the conference by the ZOA coalition representing the Likud in the USA.

As previously mentioned, the lawyers of the World Likud vehemently denied the jurisdiction of the Likud Court of Israel to discuss matters that concern the World Likud.

Minister Zohar told the Post that this was an absurd position, and seems to derive from the World Likud’s fears that the Likud Israel court will be able to preside over the matter and make decisions that are not in favor of Hagoel.

Following an intense four hours of discussion, the Likud court decided to make a clear decision. It ruled unequivocally that the Likud court of Israel has jurisdiction, by virtue of the Likud constitution, to intervene in the affairs of the World Likud and to overturn the decisions made in the Court of the World Likud.

The World Likud was subsequently asked to declare that they accept the jurisdiction of the Likud Court of Israel, something which World Likud and Hagoel refused to do.

Informed sources told the Post that Hagoel took the court’s ruling harshly, and it was evident that he understands that the more time passes, the more the public support of Minister Zohar rises – also because he earned the support ofPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A source close to Hagoel said that they do not remember such a battle in the World Likud in the past 20 years.

The ruling, however, marks a success for Minister Zohar, who garnered significant support from the delegates in the Diaspora.