Netanyahu Secures Eight Reserved Slots in Likud Primaries Following Committee Approval

The Likud party's Constitution Committee approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to change the party's primary election system, granting him eight reserved slots on the party list. The decision was made during a renewed committee meeting chaired by Likud Central Committee Chairman and Constitution Committee head, Minister Haim Katz, with Netanyahu present. Several proposals concerning the internal election method, district allocations, and candidate reservations were discussed before Netanyahu's plan was selected by majority vote.

Under the approved framework, reserved slots for the party leader do not require additional approval. Serving ministers, deputy ministers, and Knesset members are barred from running in their own districts, except in the non-Jewish sector district. District placements may be adjusted based on the number of eligible voters, determined after the official voter registry is published on July 26. Netanyahu's reserved slots will not reduce the guaranteed representation for women; if only two women are elected within the top 14 list positions, only the reserved slot at position 10 will be canceled.

The proposal also includes provisions for potential security escalations. Should a transition occur from a routine home front situation to one with restrictions on gatherings between the conference approval and the primaries, the party leader may appoint a five-member organizing committee composed of mayors to recommend candidate placements. Likud stated that the full proposal, including detailed district information and reserved slot names, will be published later on the party's website.