Wounded IDF Veteran Elisha Medan Secured High Spot on Likud Party List

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to place Elisha Medan, a severely wounded IDF reservist, in the 11th position on the Likud party's list for the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. Medan sustained critical injuries during combat in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, losing both his legs. Four of his comrades were killed in the same operation during the "Swords of Iron" war.

Medan, also a founder of the community of Avigail in the Hebron Hills, has become a symbol of resilience and determination through his extensive rehabilitation process. The Likud party stated that Medan's personal story embodies the spirit of Israeli soldiers and the nation's capacity to overcome severe challenges, recover, and continue building.

His father is Rabbi Yaakov Medan, head of the Hesder Yeshiva in Gush Etzion and a prominent opponent of the ultra-Orthodox draft exemption. The party highlighted that Medan represents the values Likud aims to promote, drawing inspiration from his journey from the battlefield to recovery.

The decision to reserve a spot for Medan comes amid internal tensions within Likud regarding the placement of reserved candidates on the party list. The Likud tribunal had issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu regarding the list's publication, but he proceeded with the announcement of Medan's placement. Oren Dobronsky, a businessman previously slated for the 11th spot, withdrew his candidacy as he would have had to relinquish his American citizenship.