Netanyahu Plans to Reserve Ketz, Katz, and Sa'ar in Likud List Amid Internal Tensions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced late at night his intention to present to the Likud party secretariat the inclusion of Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and Tourism Minister and Likud Central Committee Chairman Haim Katz on the party's candidate list for the upcoming Knesset elections. This announcement comes amid intense internal competition among Likud MKs and ministers over their placement on the list.

So far, Netanyahu has secured eight reserved slots on the Likud list at positions 3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 18, 26, and 29. The key question now is whether these three new reservations will be included within the existing eight slots or represent additional reserved places beyond the approved quota. Reports indicate Netanyahu aims to add these three reservations on top of the eight already granted, a move likely to provoke opposition and anger among party members, as each reserved spot reduces the number of open positions available to primary election candidates.

The official Likud statement clarified that the secretariat will be asked to approve the placement of Sa'ar, Israel Katz, and Haim Katz "in parallel to the Prime Minister’s reserved slots," separate from the new reservations Netanyahu intends to bring. The party's disciplinary court recently ruled that Israel Katz must be reserved a spot to allow him to focus on defense matters without engaging in political battles ahead of the primaries. Sa'ar’s inclusion follows the union agreement between his party and Likud, while Haim Katz’s reservation is linked to his role as chairman of the party’s central committee.

The reservation of Defense Minister Israel Katz was the most surprising, as it was not previously disclosed to ministers or MKs and was not part of the original eight reserved slots. This development, combined with the other two reservations, is expected to heighten internal tensions within Likud, where competition for list positions is already fierce. The final allocation and number of reserved spots remain unresolved, leaving uncertainty about how many places will be available for primary challengers.

In summary, Netanyahu’s late-night move to secure additional reserved slots for key ministers is stirring controversy within Likud, potentially limiting opportunities for other party members and intensifying the internal struggle over the candidate list for the next Knesset elections.