Netanyahu Demands Five Reserved Seats in Likud’s Top Ten for Upcoming Primaries

Following the Likud Constitution Committee's unanimous approval to postpone the party's primary elections to August 4, 2026, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to establish a "regulating committee" was officially removed from the agenda. Despite this, Netanyahu continues to push for significant changes within the party's candidate list. According to a report by Amit Segal on Channel 12 News, Netanyahu is demanding 11 reserved spots within the top 40 positions on the Likud list. While this number is slightly lower than previous discussions of 10 reserved spots out of 32, the key controversy lies in the placement of these reserved seats.

Sources within Likud reveal that Netanyahu wants five of these reserved seats within the top ten positions, meaning the party's leadership slate would include Netanyahu himself plus five candidates personally chosen by him. This move would dramatically shift the power dynamics at the top of the party list. The remaining reserved seats would be distributed in the subsequent tens, with two assigned to less realistic spots in the fortieth position. Netanyahu’s demand reflects his desire to exert decisive influence over the list’s composition, especially after past reserved seats were mostly in lower-ranking positions and failed to alter the list’s overall makeup.

Facing current polling challenges, Netanyahu aims to introduce new figures at the top, increase female representation, and create a balanced list to strengthen his electoral prospects. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has begun outreach to prominent individuals, including offering a reserved spot to Ari Spitz, an Israeli war hero wounded in Gaza and honored at the recent Independence Day torch lighting. Spitz has declined the offer so far.

Resistance remains among party members such as Minister Haim Katz and others who oppose Netanyahu’s high number of reserved seats. No final agreement has been reached yet on the exact number of guaranteed spots for Netanyahu. The political decision on these reserved seats is expected within the next two to three weeks, during July.