Israeli Parties Finalize Knesset Lists Ahead of Deadline

On Tuesday, September 8, the Likud party submitted its Knesset list, featuring several reserved spots granted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Among the new additions are Talik Gvili (9th), Yaakov Bardugo (11th), Elisha Madan (15th), David Peter (16th), Eli Goldschmidt (26th), Itzik Bunzil (29th), and Amir Aviv (35th). Notably, the Likud list includes no Russian-speaking candidates in prominent positions. Some Likud activists have criticized Netanyahu's appointments, claiming the new candidates were placed in spots not originally designated by the party's Central Committee. The party secretariat is expected to approve further additions later.

September 8 marked the deadline for parties to submit their electoral lists to the Central Elections Committee, with six major political forces deferring their submissions until the last day. These included Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism, the Hadash-Ta'al-Balad Arab alliance, Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party (running with Moshe Feiglin's Zehut), and Benny Gantz's Blue and White. Reserve Major General Yossi Bachar joined the Religious Zionism party, though his placement on the joint list with Zehut is yet to be determined.

United Torah Judaism is undergoing significant internal changes. Moshe Gafni has been removed from the leadership of Degel HaTorah, replaced by Yaakov Asher, and Uri Makleb will not be on the list. In Agudat Yisrael, Yisrael Eichler will yield his spot to Elikim Stark.

Shas also submitted its list on the final day after discussions between Aryeh Deri and the Council of Torah Sages. New candidates include Yosef Elnatanov, representing the Bukharan community, and Lt. Col. (res.) Dror Amos, head of Haifa's religious council. MKs Yoav Ben-Tzur and Moshe Abutbul, who feared exclusion, secured the fourth and seventh spots respectively.

The Hadash-Ta'al-Balad list was also delayed. Jafar Farah, initially slated for the fourth position, was removed following allegations of sexual harassment; Hadash is expected to replace him with a woman. Smotrich's Religious Zionism party lost its chance to unite with Ofer Winter's "Amcha Yisrael" party, which submitted its own list independently. Blue and White's attempt to merge with Gilad Erdan's "Achdut" party failed after Erdan withdrew from the race. While Michael Biton left Blue and White, former Beit Shemesh mayor Aliza Bloch joined Gantz's party.