Netanyahu Faces Rejections as Likud List Finalization Faces Delays

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has encountered multiple rejections as he attempts to finalize the Likud party's Knesset list. News anchor Yara Zarad of Channel 14 reportedly turned down an offer for a reserved spot on the list, preferring to stay out of politics for now. Similarly, Yiska Bina from the Movement for Governability and Democracy was also offered a reserved position.

Netanyahu has been engaged in intensive consultations, working late into the night and continuing throughout the day to fill the reserved slots. These deliberations have led to a postponement of a planned announcement event for the candidates, initially scheduled for yesterday and now tentatively moved to tomorrow afternoon, with a possibility of cancellation.

The process has been further complicated by an ultimatum from the Likud party court, which demanded Netanyahu submit the names of the reserved candidates by 9:00 PM. Failure to comply could trigger a secret ballot within the party secretariat, escalating the political drama surrounding the list's formation.

This is not the first time Netanyahu has faced refusals. Previously, prominent public and security figures such as Avichai Becker, Brig. Gen. (res.) Ofer Winter, Chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel Haim Bibas, former Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, Beer Sheva Mayor Rubik Danilovich, and Dr. Keren Assaf all declined offers for reserved spots on the Likud list.