Netanyahu Secures Defense Minister Israel Katz's Spot on Likud List Ahead of Primaries

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a letter to the Likud party court earlier this month confirming that Defense Minister Israel Katz was guaranteed a reserved spot on the party's list for the 26th Knesset. The letter clarifies that Katz's placement, expected to be within the top six positions, was decided independently and prior to the reserved spots allocated to other ministers such as Haim Katz and Gideon Sa'ar. This reservation exempts Israel Katz from participating in the election campaign, allowing him to focus on security matters during wartime.

According to Likud sources, Katz was projected to rank highly in the primaries regardless, so the reserved spot was primarily to relieve him from campaign duties. The party court ruled last week that Katz should be secured on the list to enable his focus on defense responsibilities. Meanwhile, Gideon Sa'ar and Haim Katz will be placed on the list due to coalition agreements and party leadership roles, respectively.

Some within Israel Katz's circle expressed dissatisfaction with how the reservation was publicly framed, suggesting that Katz could have foregone the reserved spot and competed in the primaries. However, no such decision has been made or appears likely. The final step remains approval by the Likud secretariat to confirm the list placements.

This development highlights internal party arrangements ahead of the upcoming elections and the strategic positioning of key figures within Likud.