Netanyahu Seeks to Retain Discretionary Knesset List Slots Amidst Party Pressure

With the deadline for submitting Knesset lists just three days away, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called a meeting of the Likud party secretariat for Tuesday to approve his remaining discretionary appointments. The deadline for list submissions is 10:00 PM on Tuesday. Pressure is mounting within the Likud for Netanyahu not to use all his allocated slots unless there is a significant electoral benefit. Some candidates, including ministers who did not secure favorable positions, are reportedly disappointed as Netanyahu keeps his final choices closely guarded.

Netanyahu has so far used four of his nine discretionary slots. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar were placed in the top five, with Gallant citing his ministerial duties and Sa'ar's placement part of a coalition agreement. Minister Haim Katz and businessman Oren Dubronsky, an external candidate, were also appointed. This leaves Netanyahu with five slots, which he has held back, potentially for coalition negotiations or mergers.

One key negotiation involves Ofer Winter, who has reportedly refused all merger offers, including potential slots within the Likud. Netanyahu had hoped to integrate Winter's supporters into the Likud list, possibly through a tripartite merger with the Religious Zionism party and Moshe Feiglin's faction. If the merger with Winter fails, Netanyahu is expected to announce new additions to the list, which could reignite internal party tensions following a contentious primary.

The use of discretionary appointments has already pushed some elected candidates down the list, leading to lobbying from Knesset members and ministers urging Netanyahu to reserve some slots to avoid further marginalizing them. Despite the internal dissent, Netanyahu is convening the secretariat to maintain his options open until the final submission deadline.

Meanwhile, other parties are finalizing their lists. Naftali Bennett's Yamina party is expected to reveal its list, which reportedly has more candidates than available top spots, including former Yesh Atid MKs. Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu is also set to present its list, maintaining a stable polling position around ten seats and incorporating new candidates, including those from liberal religious Zionist circles and reservists.

Gadi Eisenkot, the leading contender against Netanyahu in polls, will present his list on Monday. He has indicated that surprise additions are planned for the coming days and has not ruled out a potential merger with Bennett, with whom he discussed the possibility at a recent conference. The integration of Hili Tropper, chairman of the reservists' group "The Home Front," into either Eisenkot's or Bennett's list is also being considered.