Likud Decides Hadar Mukhtar Will Not Receive Early Military Release or Run in Primaries

The Likud party has concluded that Hadar Mukhtar will not be granted an early release from her military service, preventing her from running in the upcoming party primaries. Earlier reports suggested that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intended to shorten Mukhtar's service to allow her to compete for the "new woman" slot in the party, aiming to attract younger voters. Mukhtar's associates claimed she had received explicit promises regarding this support. However, due to a current push to make the Likud list more nationally representative and strong pressure from Knesset members and ministers, Netanyahu has decided to block the entry of additional new candidates like Mukhtar.

In contrast, another candidate, Shay Kalach, had his military service shortened overnight and is expected to run in the primaries. Mukhtar had previously expressed her intention to strengthen the right-wing, bring new voters and youth back to the right, expose what she called the left's hypocrisy, and address issues like the cost of living and housing crisis. Despite these ambitions, the party leadership's strategic considerations have sidelined her candidacy for now.