Likud Central Committee gathering
Likud Central Committee gatheringSpokesperson

The Likud party's internal court has ruled that there will be no primary election for the party's Knesset slate, leaving the existing slate intact for the March 2nd, 2020 general election.

The ruling was made overnight, two days ahead of the party's leadership race which pits incumbent chief Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu against challenger MK Gideon Sa'ar.

Last Thursday, the Likud court had backed a bid to hold new primaries for the party's Knesset slate.

The decision provoked criticism from senior party officials, who appealed the decision.

The judges of the court initially thought that primaries for the slate should be held, but ultimately accepted the petitioners' arguments that there would not be sufficient time to allow for proper internal elections and candidates would not have enough time to present their candidacy to the public.

The tribunal's decision, the officials said, was unanimously adopted by the nine judges discussing the petitions.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday signed on to the appeal to the Likud internal court to cancel the primaries.