Netanyahu Allies Urge Likud MKs to Quit Primaries for Positions Amid List Formation Debate

Several Likud Knesset members reported receiving phone calls from associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, urging them to withdraw from the party primaries in exchange for political appointments. This development comes amid intense internal disputes within Likud over the method for selecting the party's candidate list for the upcoming Knesset elections.

Originally planned to be held at Netanyahu's office, the Likud Constitution Committee meeting was abruptly relocated to the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. The timing of these calls coincides with Netanyahu promoting a "combined track" system for the list formation, which would blend primaries, a selection committee, and reserved slots, thereby granting him significant influence over the final list.

Likud's Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Shikli expressed hope for a balanced approach that would introduce new candidates while respecting the party's grassroots. He estimated there would be between six and eight reserved slots on the list, alongside primaries.

Last month, Likud MK David Bitan petitioned the party court to prevent canceling the primaries in favor of a selection committee, arguing that tens of thousands of party members should retain their right to vote. Bitan's proposal includes full primaries with Netanyahu receiving three reserved slots among the top 30 candidates and five overall in the top 50, plus direct election of nine district representatives by party members.

Netanyahu's suggested "three-track" system, presented to the Likud Constitution Committee chaired by Minister Haim Katz, proposes that one-third of candidates be chosen by primaries, one-third by a selection committee, and one-third appointed by the prime minister. District representatives would be elected in primaries but their list placement would depend on membership and voter turnout metrics. This system aims to ensure a list favorable to Netanyahu and address shortcomings from previous primaries.

The internal struggle reflects Netanyahu's efforts to ease opposition within Likud and prevent dissenting votes against the coalition in the days before the Knesset's official dissolution on July 17.