Netanyahu Faces Pushback Over Demands for 11 Reserved Seats in Likud List

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded 11 reserved slots within the top 40 positions on the Likud party list for the upcoming Knesset elections, including five spots in the top ten. Among those offered a reserved seat was Ari Spitz, a soldier severely wounded in Gaza who recently completed rehabilitation and lit the Independence Day torch, but Spitz declined the offer.

The demand for numerous reserved seats has caused friction within the party. Minister Haim Katz informed Netanyahu that many party members oppose this request, and no agreement has yet been reached on how many reserved spots Netanyahu can allocate to his allies. The final decision will be made by the party institutions in July.

The Likud primaries are scheduled for August 4, following an agreement reached recently. Netanyahu’s push for significant changes in the party’s composition has raised concerns among current Likud MKs and ministers, who fear that if the demand is fulfilled, many of them may lose their seats in the next Knesset.