Likud Court Orders Netanyahu to Reveal Protected Knesset List Candidates

The Likud party court has ordered party chairman Benjamin Netanyahu to reveal the names of candidates he intends to protect in guaranteed spots on the party's list for the 26th Knesset elections within two hours. The court deemed any delay in disclosing these protected candidates as "inappropriate conduct." Failure to comply could lead to Netanyahu's protected candidate proposals being subject to a secret ballot, amid escalating internal disputes within Likud over the number and placement of these reserved positions.

This ruling follows internal pressure from senior Likud figures to relegate some of Netanyahu's protected spots from the top ten to later positions on the list. Previously, Netanyahu had secured ten protected spots, with four initially planned for the top ten. Under earlier arrangements, he was granted the right to protect candidates for the third and ninth positions, among eight spots approved by the Likud secretariat, in addition to protecting Ministers Israel Katz and Gideon Sa'ar for the fourth and fifth spots. So far, Netanyahu has only named one new candidate, Oren Dobronsky, for the eleventh position.

Amidst party pressure, there is a push to reduce the number of Netanyahu's protected spots and move them to the second ten. The Likud secretariat's meeting to approve these protected candidates has been postponed to Tuesday at 11 AM. These developments occur as the deadline for submitting final Knesset election lists approaches on Monday afternoon, increasing pressure on Netanyahu and party leadership to finalize the list's order.

Meanwhile, Ministers Nir Barkat and Gila Gamliel will retain their positions at 24 and 25, respectively, despite these spots not being entirely secure according to current polls. Likud is projected to win between 21 and 23 seats in most polls, intensifying internal competition for the later list positions.

Netanyahu is also reportedly seeking new candidates, having offered Beer Sheva Mayor Rubik Danilovich the third spot on the list, along with a senior ministerial position and deputy prime minister role, an offer Danilovich reportedly declined. In a separate matter, the Likud court rejected petitions concerning the recount results from the Beer Yaakov polling stations, upholding the results. Following MK Tal Gottlieb's withdrawal, the court mandated adherence to party regulations for female representation, placing MK Eti Atia at 20 and Minister Gila Gamliel at 25.

This protected candidate crisis unfolds as the Israeli right-wing political landscape sees rapid efforts to reorganize party lists before the candidate submission deadline. Ofer Winter is set to submit his "Amcha Israel" party list, having rejected mediation to join forces with Bezalel Smotrich's "Religious Zionism" party. Smotrich has been authorized by the Religious Zionism center to form additional alliances, while Winter urges others to join him, warning against wasted votes and a left-wing government. Winter reiterated his stance that politicians in positions of responsibility on October 7th should resign but stated he would recommend Netanyahu to form the next government, anticipating a "protest vote" in the upcoming elections.