Israel's Knesset Election Lists Close With Netanyahu's Likud List Unfinalized

The deadline for submitting candidate lists for Israel's 26th Knesset elections is Tuesday, September 8th. The Central Elections Committee received 18 lists on the first day, with parties having until 10 PM to submit theirs, potentially extended to midnight by the committee chair.

The primary suspense surrounds the Likud party, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to finalize his list, particularly the positions reserved for the party leader. A Likud court demanded Netanyahu release his proposed appointments within two hours on September 7th, warning that submitting them just before the secretariat's vote could be seen as an "inappropriate procedural grab." Netanyahu rejected this demand. The secretariat meeting to approve the appointments, initially set for 11 AM Tuesday, was moved to 2 PM and remains tentative.

Several candidates have been rumored for Likud's reserved spots, including Gideon Saar, Haim Katz, and Israel Katz. MK Michel Buskila is expected to receive a spot per an agreement with the New Hope party. Businessman Oren Dobronsky, initially offered a top-ten position, announced Monday night he would not run, leaving the final configuration open and potentially displacing other primary-elected candidates.

Six major political forces, including Likud, delayed their submissions until the final day. These are Shas, United Torah Judaism, the Hadash-Ta'al-Balad Arab list, Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism (running with Moshe Feiglin's Zehut), and Benny Gantz's National Unity.

United Torah Judaism anticipates significant changes, with Moshe Gafni reportedly removed from Degel HaTorah leadership, replaced by Yaakov Asher, and Uri Maklev also out. In Agudat Yisrael, Israel Eichler will cede his spot to Ya'akov Astor. Shas's list, discussed with the Council of Torah Sages, may include Joseph Elnatanov and reserve Lt. Col. Dror Amos. MKs Yoav Ben-Tzur and Moshe Abutbul's fears of exclusion are reportedly unfounded, according to Ynet.

The Hadash-Ta'al-Balad list saw Jafar Farah withdraw following sexual harassment allegations; Hadash is expected to replace him with a woman. Religious Zionism lost its chance to unite with Ofer Winter's "Am Israel" party, which submitted its own list. National Unity's attempt to merge with Gilad Erdan's "Achdut" party failed after Erdan exited the race. MK Michael Biton left National Unity, but former Beit Shemesh mayor Aliza Bloch joined Gantz. Benny Gantz's party also reportedly considered Yoaz Hendel, who instead formed a joint list with Yaron Zelicha. Among parties that submitted lists on Monday were Gadi Eisenkot's National Unity, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid's "Bayahad," Yair Golan's "Democrats," Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit, Mansour Abbas's Ra'am, Ofer Winter's "Am Israel," and Hendel and Zelicha's "Reservists, Economic." No new blocs can be formed after the submission deadline.