Israel’s Likud party is gearing up for its primary elections to determine the Knesset candidate list by July 28, as it braces for upcoming national elections amidst heightened political rivalry. This decision was unanimously backed by the party’s constitution committee, chaired by Tourism Minister Haim Katz. While the exact date for the primaries is yet to be set, the election will rank candidates below the party’s leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, whose position remains unchallenged at the top of the list.
Currently the largest party in the Knesset with 32 seats, Likud employs a primary system to select most of its parliamentary representatives. The forthcoming primaries are anticipated to draw significant attention as members vie for critical spots on the electoral list. Reports suggest that Netanyahu aims to secure positions for a few favored candidates at the top of the slate, which has sparked resistance from some incumbent lawmakers worried about their future roles and electoral outcomes.
Informal voting among party activists has shown strong backing for candidates like Amir Ohana and Eli Cohen. However, party officials caution that the preferences of activists do not always align with the final primary results. The leadership is also considering concerns that candidates favored by the party’s core supporters may not appeal to moderate right-wing and undecided voters, whose votes could be crucial in a tightly contested national election.
Despite current polling indicating that Likud remains a formidable political entity in Israel, it faces growing competition from opposition alliances led by figures such as Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Surveys show neither the ruling coalition nor the opposition holds a decisive parliamentary majority, suggesting complex coalition talks may be necessary following the next election. The Likud primaries’ results are expected to significantly influence the party’s electoral strategy and leadership dynamics ahead of Israel’s forthcoming national vote.