Likud Lawmakers Rebel Against Netanyahu’s Reserved Slots for Defense Minister and Party Chair

A faction within Israel's Likud party is mobilizing to demand a secret ballot vote on the reserved Knesset slots (shiryonim) that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to allocate to Defense Minister Israel Katz and Likud Central Committee Chairman Haim Katz. This development comes amid internal turmoil in the party ahead of the upcoming primaries. Despite the push for a secret vote, the chances of approval under these conditions appear slim, raising the possibility that Netanyahu’s plan for the reserved slots could be blocked.

The Likud party announced overnight that its secretariat would be asked to approve the placement of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and party chairman Haim Katz on the Likud list, in addition to other new reserved slots Netanyahu intends to introduce. The party cited a recent ruling by the Likud Movement’s court mandating a reserved slot for the Defense Minister to allow him to focus on security matters rather than politics. Sa’ar’s slot is part of a unity agreement with his party, while Haim Katz’s slot is justified by his leadership role.

However, the announcement sparked outrage among many Likud ministers and Knesset members. While Sa’ar’s reserved slot was largely accepted, the reserved slots for the two Katzes provoked harsh criticism. Critics accused them of blackmailing Netanyahu to secure their positions. One senior Likud figure called it a "scandal" and said Israel Katz pressured the prime minister, demanding a reserved slot in exchange for approving other reserved slots. Another lawmaker described the move as "outrageous corruption and hostile takeover of the party by operatives." MK Tali Gottlieb also condemned the decision as a "shameful step" mocking Likud voters, emphasizing the need to fight the judicial system she claims persecutes the right-wing government.

The controversy highlights deep divisions within Likud as it prepares for the 2026 elections, with some members viewing the reserved slots as undermining democratic processes within the party. The outcome of the secretariat vote and the primaries will determine whether Netanyahu’s reserved slot strategy succeeds or faces significant resistance.