Likud Ministers Secure Safe Seats Amid Intense Primary Battles and Internal Deals

Ahead of the upcoming elections, three Likud ministers, Haim Katz, Gidon Sa'ar, and Israel Katz, have been granted guaranteed spots on the party list, sparking surprise and speculation within the party. The announcement came late at night, with party insiders revealing that Israel Katz’s safe seat is particularly controversial. Officially, this arrangement allows him to focus on security matters amid heightened tensions with Iran, but some question why he recently released confusing and embarrassing videos if secrecy was intended.

The political atmosphere within Likud is highly charged, with about half of the current Knesset members, including some ministers, expected to lose their seats in the primaries. This has led to intense competition and heated rhetoric, including unacceptable comparisons between opposition MKs and Hamas terrorists. Gidon Sa’ar’s safe seat was part of prior agreements following his entry into the government after Benny Gantz and Aviv Kochavi’s departure, reflecting his fears of losing support due to his role in the Bennett-Lapid government.

Haim Katz’s guaranteed spot is linked to his recent disagreements with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who reportedly offered him the safe seat to secure his loyalty. Netanyahu is also expected to use such safe seats strategically to unify smaller right-wing parties if they secure minimal mandates.

Meanwhile, in the ultra-Orthodox parties, the main concern is not the identity of candidates but voter turnout. Despite media reports highlighting large budget allocations to these parties, many of these funds have been frozen by the Supreme Court, affecting subsidies for daycare, yeshivas, and housing programs. This has led to fears that disappointed voters might abstain, potentially costing parties like Shas and United Torah Judaism several mandates.

The political maneuvering within Likud and the challenges facing the ultra-Orthodox parties underscore the tense and uncertain landscape ahead of the elections.