Netanyahu Secures Reserved Knesset Seats for Key Ministers in Likud List

In a late-night announcement after 1:00 AM, Israel's ruling Likud party declared that its secretariat will be asked to approve reserved Knesset list spots for Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Likud Central Committee Chairman Haim Katz. This move comes shortly after businessman Oren Dovronsky was confirmed as the first reserved candidate for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s faction, placed 11th on the list. Dovronsky, known for founding a Silicon Valley hummus restaurant chain and appearing on the show "The Sharks," is expected to lead Israel’s artificial intelligence initiatives post-election.

The Likud statement explained that the party’s internal court ruled last week to reserve a spot for Defense Minister Israel Katz to allow him to focus on security matters rather than politics during this period. Sa’ar’s reserved seat is part of a unity agreement between his party and Likud, while Haim Katz’s reservation is due to his role as party center chairman. Sources indicated Israel Katz will be placed in the second quintile of the list, with Haim Katz reserved up to the 18th spot.

These reserved seats are in addition to the eight reserved spots already allocated to Netanyahu himself, who holds positions 3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 18, 26, and 29 on the Likud list. The announcement signals strategic positioning ahead of the upcoming elections, ensuring key ministers maintain parliamentary presence and influence within the party framework.