Likud Proposes Eight Reserved Slots for Netanyahu in August Primaries

During a Likud Constitution Committee meeting on Monday, party chairman and Minister Haim Katz presented a new framework for the upcoming Likud primaries scheduled for August 17, 2026. The proposal outlines the composition of the party list, including the allocation of reserved slots for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, distribution between the national list and regional districts, and representation guarantees.

Under the plan, Netanyahu would receive eight reserved slots at positions 2, 5, 9, 11, 15, 18, 26, and 31. This is fewer than Netanyahu's original demand for ten reserved realistic slots but more than the three slots proposed by MK David Bitan. The national list would dominate the lineup with candidates placed at positions 4, 6-8, 10, 12-14, 16-17, 19-25, 32-33, and 35, including a special slot at 34 reserved for a "new woman" candidate.

The proposal also designates specific slots for regional districts such as Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and Shfela at 27; Dan and Tel Aviv at 28; Negev at 29; Galilee at 30; and Coastal Plain at 36, with additional districts assigned further down the list. Representation guarantees include reserved spots for women (20, 25, 40), youth (39), non-Jewish sector (41), immigrants (43), and people with disabilities (45).

The rules allow current ministers, deputy ministers, and Knesset members to run both in districts and on representation guarantees. Voting will be district-based for district candidates, while all party members can vote for up to 12 candidates on the national list. The Likud convention to approve the framework was initially set for Tuesday but is expected to be postponed to Thursday, which may delay the primaries to mid-August.

This proposal follows several competing plans within Likud leadership, with Netanyahu advocating for more reserved slots to refresh the list with new candidates, while others like Bitan seek fewer reserved positions. The Constitution Committee must now decide which framework to endorse before the convention vote. Observers note it will be interesting to see which MKs choose to run in districts versus the national list, balancing easier election chances against list positioning.