Netanyahu’s pick for Knesset committee loses internal Likud vote

In a secret vote held yesterday, former Israeli Prime Minister and head of the Likud Party, Benjamin Netanyahu’s pick for the judicial selection committee lost.

Netanyahu had backed MK Keren Barak for the post in the committee, which is set to appoint six Supreme Court judges over the coming four years. However, his party voted in favour of MK Orly Levy-Abecassis.

The Knesset will be voting on Wednesday for its two representatives on the committee. Traditionally, one is chosen from the coalition and one from the opposition. The coalition will field only one candidate, Efrat Rayten of Labor. Traditionally, the Knesset chooses one out of two candidates – one from the coalition and one from the opposition, the Jerusalem Post explained.

The paper said the fact that Netanyahu’s candidate failed to gain the necessary backing “has been interpreted as a vote of no confidence” in the former PM’s leadership.

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