Netanyahu Offers Knesset Spot to News Anchor, She Declines
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently approached Yaara Zerad, a news anchor for Channel 14, offering her a reserved spot on the Likud party's Knesset list. Zerad, however, declined the offer, choosing not to enter the political arena at this time. The offer was part of Netanyahu's ongoing efforts to fill reserved slots on the Likud list, with final decisions on candidates still pending.
Netanyahu has been engaged in intensive consultations regarding these reserved positions, with discussions continuing late into the night and resuming throughout the day. A planned announcement of candidates, initially scheduled for Monday at the Orient Hotel in Jerusalem, has been postponed to Tuesday afternoon, and there is a possibility it could be canceled entirely.
In parallel, Netanyahu also offered a reserved spot to Yiska Bina, head of the "Movement for Governability and Democracy." This offer reportedly aims to address two key considerations for the list: incorporating a figure associated with judicial reform and its supporters, and ensuring a prominent female candidate.
Adding pressure to the situation, the Likud party's tribunal has issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu, demanding that the names of those receiving reserved spots be published by 9:00 PM on Monday. Failure to meet this deadline could lead to a secret vote by the Likud secretariat, significantly increasing the urgency for Netanyahu to finalize his decisions.
