Netanyahu Secures Control Over Likud List With New Clause Allowing Primary Cancellation

The Knesset Constitution Committee approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request to reserve eight secured spots within the top 30 positions on the Likud party list ahead of upcoming elections. This decision includes a novel clause granting Netanyahu the authority to cancel the party primaries if a security situation arises that restricts public gatherings. The committee's approval came on July 20, 2026, with a full Knesset vote expected on Thursday.

Netanyahu's move is widely seen as an effort to consolidate maximum control over the party list, ensuring loyalty among candidates and managing public image. A significant motivation behind this strategy relates to the upcoming repeated election for the State Comptroller position. In June, Michael Regev, Netanyahu's personal attorney, was initially elected as State Comptroller, but the appointment was frozen by the Supreme Court due to voting secrecy concerns, prompting new elections.

Netanyahu is reportedly considering holding the State Comptroller election before finalizing and publishing the Likud list. This timing aims to prevent disgruntled Likud MKs, who might be placed low or excluded from the list, from retaliating against him in the comptroller vote. By delaying the list's publication and controlling its composition, Netanyahu hopes to maintain the hope among MKs of securing favorable list positions, thereby securing their loyalty.

This political maneuver reflects Netanyahu's broader strategy to maintain influence within his party and manage internal dissent amid sensitive national security and political challenges. The new clause allowing primary cancellation due to security concerns also underscores the tense security environment influencing Israeli politics at this time.