Likud C14 Primaries See MK Tali Gottlieb Lead Over Incumbent Ministers

The Likud party's new C14 primary project has quickly attracted thousands of voters who are shaping the party's candidate list for the upcoming Knesset elections. Within just one hour of the project's launch, MK Tali Gottlieb surged to the top position with over 1,000 votes, surpassing several incumbent ministers. Following Gottlieb, MK Moshe Saada, running in his first primaries after previously being placed on the list by Netanyahu, secured second place with more than 900 votes. Boaz Bismuth, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, also received over 900 votes, placing him high on the list.

Among ministers, Amichai Shikli led with over 800 votes, ranking fourth, while Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana also garnered more than 800 votes, rounding out the top five. Other notable placements include Ofir Katz in sixth, Shlomo Karai in seventh, and newcomer Erez Tadmor in eighth, who outperformed many sitting MKs and ministers. Defense Minister Israel Katz and Justice Minister Yariv Levin were pushed to the bottom of the top ten.

The C14 platform allows voters to select their preferred 12 candidates, including regional representatives and a new female candidate slot, as well as candidates reserved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The voting is free, transparent, and ongoing, enabling the public to influence the Likud list in real time ahead of the official primaries. This initiative aims to engage the broader public in shaping the party's lineup for the 2026 elections.