Secret Ballot Could Determine Likud-Beiteinu Future

Prime Minister Netanyahu is finding out that there is significant opposition to his plans to run the Likud on a joint list together with Yisrael Beiteinu in the upcoming elections.

Following a petition signed by 400 Likud central committee members, and as per Likud rules, the Likud will now be required to hold a secret ballot among all the central committee members to see if they approve of the joint list proposition.

In surveys taken of Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu members, the majority claimed to support running as a joint list.

But opponents of the joint list are hoping that in a secret ballot, the results will go against Netanyahu. One Central Committee Member told JewishPress.com that this merger "strips internal democracy from the Likud."

The secret ballot may be held on Monday.

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