Likud MK Moshe Feiglin, who heads the Manhigut Yehudit faction, has announced he is dropping out of the party’s leadership race. Feiglin’s announcement followed the verdict handed down by the Likud Court, which heard the appeal from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, that the party’s primaries will be held on December 31, 2014 as Mr. Netanyahu wishes.

Feiglin explains he does not wish to drag the party into a legal process and as such, he is dropping out of the race. He explains that the court’s ruling changes the rules of play and he cannot fight in two venues simultaneously, the leadership race and the legal issues facing the decision to change the election date. Feiglin told the press that at this critical hour he prefers to unite ranks towards the Likud remaining the ruling party. Feiglin is however competing for a slot on the Likud ticket and hopes he will enjoy sufficient support to land a high position.

The court’s earlier decision to abide by the prime minister’s request to move up elections led to Gideon Saar to announce he was not going to run against Netanyahu for the Likud’s leadership slot. As such, the only person running against the prime minister for the party’s top spot is MK Danny Danon and another candidate named Yoav kish.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)