Netanyahu Weighs Reserved Seats for Kaholon, Sa’ar and Bibas on Likud List

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering reserving high slots on the Likud Knesset slate for former finance minister Moshe Kahlon, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and Israel Local Government Center chairman and Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut Mayor Chaim Bibas. The report was aired Tuesday on Kan News radio’s “The Morning This” program.

According to Likud sources, Netanyahu is expected to demand eight or nine reserved places on the party list in total, including three in the top 10, two in the second 10, and at least three more in the third 10. The move would give preferred placement to candidates rather than requiring them to compete in the party’s primary election.

About a month ago, it was reported that Kahlon reached a plea agreement in a securities reporting offense, under the Securities Law, which would allow him to run if he chooses. Sa’ar is believed likely to accept a reserved slot rather than enter the party primary.

Netanyahu’s circle has also recently approached Larry Shpitz, an IDF soldier badly wounded in Gaza who lost both legs and an arm. Shpitz underwent a long rehabilitation process and lit a torch on Israel’s Independence Day. Separately, after Likud MK David Bitan petitioned the party court to block the establishment of a arranging committee, the court ruled yesterday that as long as the Likud constitution is unchanged, candidates must be chosen only through primaries.