A Likud party court ruled Monday against holding primaries to determine the party's list for the Knesset election on March 2, 2020.
The move, approved in an extended vote on an appeal against the list primary, came as a reversal on a prior ruling, with the decision explained by the prospect that Likud could end up missing the Jan. 15 deadline for submitting its list to the Central Elections Committee.
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Meanwhile, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar prepare to face off for the leadership of the Likud party in voting that will take place this Thursday, Sa'ar said Monday evening that "when he was elected head of the Likud," he would take steps to have Netanyahu made president. Sa'ar said Netanyahu "could continue serving the nation with his diplomatic skills, which are the best in the world."
On Thursday, Dec. 26, Likud members are slated to choose a leader for the movement. The winner will run as head of the party on March 2. Netanyahu and Sa'ar have both been taking advantage of the Hanukkah holiday to hold meetings with party activists and members of the Likud Central Committee ahead of the voting on Thursday.
The Likud Central Elections Committee announced Monday that due to the inclement weather forecast for Thursday, voting would be extended by an hour and take place from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Ballot counting will begin as soon as the polls close.
Part of this article was originally published by i24NEWS.