The Likud election committee has ruled in favor of Knesset Member Tzipi Hotovely after a recount of votes in the party primaries elections and decided she won the 20th spot on the Likud list of candidates.
The decision means that former Likud MK and Cabinet minister Avi Dichter is bumped back to the 26th place because the spots in between are reserved for sectorial candidates.
Dichter is not expected to surrender so quickly and probably will appeal to the District Court if the Likud does not re-consider and decide in his favor. He claimed that there are strong suspicions of foul play in the counting of the votes.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu still has the option of choosing Dichter to fill one of the reserved places farther up in the list, a move that would prevent another recount and possibly an even more embarrassing situation.
Hotovely said after the Likud elections committee decision, “I congratulate the committee to do justice for the voters and correct the mishaps that occurred during the election process. I have no doubt that most of the defects in the counting of the votes were a result of human error….
“During my appeal, I emphasized that there is no personal quarrel between me and Dichter, and I am sure he also will be a part of the next Knesset.”
Her victory is likely to boost the Liquid’s appeal among right-wing Likud supporters who are drifting towards the Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home) party.