Democrats Hold Primaries Amid Power Struggle Between Meretz and Labor Factions

On Monday, approximately 114,000 members of the Israeli Democrats party are voting in the party's first-ever primaries since its founding by chairman Yair Golan. The digital vote, conducted via mobile phones, allows each member to select up to eight candidates from a list of 51 contenders competing for 10 to 12 realistic spots on the party list. Voting runs from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with results expected about an hour after polls close.

The top three spots are widely expected to be secured by the party's three incumbent Knesset members: Naama Lazimi, Gilad Kariv, and Efrat Rayten, who are seen as deserving recognition for their parliamentary work. The main competition is for the fourth place, contested by Moshe Redman, Yair (Ya-Ya) Pink, and Nimrod Shafir. Pink is considered strong due to his seniority and prior activity in the Labor Party, while Redman has gained support from new members who joined the Democrats in protest against Prime Minister Netanyahu's judicial reforms.

The fifth place, effectively the sixth on the list including Golan's reserved spot as chairman, is contested by candidates aligned with Meretz, including former MKs Gabi Leski and Michal Rozin, as well as Yariv Oppenheimer. Another notable candidate potentially entering the top ten is Omri Ronen from "Brothers in Arms," whose campaign was controversially supported by Defense Minister Israel Katz after Katz demanded Ronen's removal from IDF reserve service.

There is also a contest for a spot reserved for kibbutz or moshav representatives between former MK Ram Shefa and social activist Avi Dabush, and a competitive minority slot featuring candidates like Somaya Bashir from northern Israel. The primaries occur amid tensions between Labor and Meretz factions within the Democrats, with efforts led by Golan to limit candidates seen as too extreme or too closely identified with Meretz. Golan secured two reserved spots on the list to balance these influences and may adjust the list further depending on the primary results.