Ohana and Gottlieb Lead Likud Primary Poll, Katz Falls to Second Ten

A recent poll conducted by Dr. Nimrod Nir from the Agam Institute among over 1,000 Likud party members with voting rights reveals the potential outcome of the upcoming Likud primaries. If held now, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, MK Tali Gottlieb, and MK Boaz Bismuth would top the party list. The top ten also include Minister Eli Cohen, MK Moshe Saada, Minister Amichai Shikli, Coalition Chairman MK Ofir Katz, MK Avichai Boaron, Minister Miri Regev, and Minister Yariv Levin.

Defense Minister Israel Katz, despite being granted a reserved spot in the party, ranks 13th in the primaries, trailing behind Minister Shlomo Karhi and media personality Erez Tadmor. Another reserved candidate, MK Haim Katz, falls even further to 35th place among Likud members. The poll also differentiated between loyal Likud voters and those wavering or planning to abandon the party. While Ohana leads among party members, among wavering voters, Nir Barkat ranks first, followed by Ohana, Avi Dichter, Shikli, and Cohen.

The reserved slots for Israel Katz, Gideon Sa'ar, and Haim Katz significantly reshuffle the list, prioritizing these ministers and pushing several veteran MKs and ministers such as Hanoch Milwitsky, Gila Gamliel, Dudi Amsalem, Miki Zohar, and Idit Silman to unrealistic positions below 30th place.

Likud members were also surveyed on whom they want to see reserved on the list, with Deputy Minister Almog Cohen leading with 39.3% support, followed by spokesperson Yosef Hadad, David Petel, Ron Darmar, Itzik Bunzel, Ofer Winter, and Gal Hirsch. When asked about the most respected senior Likud figures, Ohana topped the list, followed by Ministers Eli Cohen and Amichai Shikli, MK Boaz Bismuth, and Ministers Shlomo Karhi, Yariv Levin, Israel Katz, and May Golan.

Regarding coalition preferences, 66.1% of Likud members favor a full right-wing government including Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit, and ultra-Orthodox parties, while 33.9% prefer a unity government with center-right factions. Among Likud voters, 45.1% support a full right-wing coalition, and 54.9% prefer a unity government.