Netanyahu Freezes Likud List Slots to Control Right-Wing Chaos Ahead of 2026 Elections

As the 2026 Israeli elections approach, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is strategically freezing reserved slots on the Likud party list. This move aims not only to curb internal rivals but also to manage the broader right-wing bloc's fragmentation. Netanyahu's campaign is currently low-key, focusing on targeting moderate right-wing voters who are skeptical of the current government and hesitant to support coalition parties or the left.

Likud plans to launch an aggressive campaign against former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, portraying him as reliant on left-wing and Arab parties such as Ra'am. The campaign will emphasize that a vote for Eizenkot equates to supporting a coalition with leftist and Arab factions, aiming to sway "soft right" voters back to Likud.

Netanyahu is waiting to see the results of the Likud primaries before allocating reserved list slots, which he has historically used to block unwanted candidates and balance the list's composition. These slots will help address potential criticisms regarding representation of women, Mizrahi Jews, reservists, and candidates focused on economic issues.

Additionally, Netanyahu may use these reserved slots as political leverage to unify right-wing parties like Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, and Noam, preventing vote losses due to fragmented runs. If these parties fail to reach agreements independently, Netanyahu could facilitate their unification by offering Likud list positions as incentives.

This strategy reflects Netanyahu's broader goal to consolidate the right-wing vote, manage internal party dynamics, and counter the perceived threat from Eizenkot and his potential coalition partners ahead of the elections scheduled in about three months.