Likud Estimates Hadar Mukhtar Will Not Receive Service Reduction to Run in Primaries

The Likud party currently assesses that Hadar Mukhtar will not be granted a reduction in her mandatory military service (Pazam), which would prevent her from running in the upcoming party primaries. Earlier reports suggested that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might approve such a reduction to allow Mukhtar to compete for the "new woman" slot on the list, partly to attract younger voters. However, current evaluations within Likud indicate Netanyahu prefers not to advance this move. This decision is influenced by a desire to make the Likud list more national in character and pressure from Knesset members and ministers opposing the entry of new candidates.

Mukhtar's associates claim she was previously given explicit promises regarding the service reduction, but it now appears unlikely to materialize. Meanwhile, Likud approved a service reduction for Shai Kalach, who is expected to run in the primaries. This development highlights the internal struggle within the party over the identity of new candidates and the composition of the list ahead of the elections.