Political Commentator Strongly Opposes Moshe Kahlon's Reserved Spot in Likud List

Political commentator Yaakov Bardugo sharply criticized reports that former Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon might receive a reserved spot on the Likud party list for the upcoming Knesset elections. Bardugo made his remarks on Monday during his radio program on Galei Yisrael, responding to a report by Yossi Verter in Haaretz that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered Kahlon a guaranteed place on the Likud list.

Bardugo argued that including Kahlon in Likud would be a "political suicide," citing Kahlon's involvement in controversial decisions such as the establishment of the public broadcasting corporation, the "Tirshah Gidon" plan by Gadi Eisenkot that weakened the Israeli military, and his opposition to judicial reform alongside former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak. He described Kahlon as "the deep state of the deep state" and said that bringing him into Likud would represent a collapse of the values fought for over the past four years.

This development follows the Likud Central Committee's recent approval of a new primary system granting Netanyahu eight reserved spots on the party list, a move that sparked heated debate including a confrontation between Netanyahu and Knesset member David Bitan.

Kahlon was convicted two months ago for securities law violations related to his tenure as chairman of the public company "Yonet Credit." The Tel Aviv District Court sentenced him to a suspended prison term, a fine of 180,000 shekels, and an 18-month ban on holding public company positions. The charges stemmed from Kahlon's failure to promptly disclose significant financial irregularities discovered in the company's Nazareth branch.

Bardugo's comments highlight internal tensions within Likud and raise questions about the party's direction ahead of the elections.