Netanyahu Announces Oren Dovronsky as Likud’s First Reserved Candidate for Knesset

Less than three months before the 2026 Knesset elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Oren Dovronsky as the first reserved candidate on the Likud party list. Dovronsky, a successful businessman and right-wing figure, will lead the party’s efforts on artificial intelligence across various sectors including the economy, education, and healthcare. The Likud party highlighted his background as a high-tech pioneer in Israel and emphasized his role in advancing AI policy.

Dovronsky expressed his commitment to the role, stating that Netanyahu’s invitation felt like a call to duty despite his lack of prior political ambitions. He pledged to fully dedicate himself to the task, saying, "I’m coming under the stretcher to do what needs to be done."

Dovronsky founded Israel’s first internet bulletin board startup in 1996 and has since launched several companies, some sold for tens of millions of dollars. In 2020, he established the Clear Giving charity, which has donated around 30 million shekels to families in need through food voucher programs as of November 2025. His appointment signals Likud’s focus on integrating technological innovation into its platform ahead of the elections.