Senior Women and Veteran Ministers Clash in Heated Likud Primaries Ahead of Knesset Elections

The Likud party is gearing up for one of its most dramatic primaries in recent years, marked by legal challenges and intense internal battles. Veteran ministers and new Knesset members alike are competing fiercely for limited spots on the party list ahead of the upcoming elections. Key figures such as Amir Ohana, Miri Regev, Eli Cohen, and Yariv Levin are fighting to secure top-five positions to strengthen their standing within the party. Regev, the senior female minister, is also seen as fulfilling the party’s commitment to female representation, which reserves several spots in the top ten for women.

With Netanyahu’s reserved slots and list engineering, only 15 places remain for men up to the 30th spot, and just three realistic spots for women out of eight prominent female members currently serving. This means some well-known ministers and Knesset members are likely to lose their seats. Likud currently has 14 senior officials, including Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and 12 ministers such as Eli Cohen, Yariv Levin, Miri Regev, and others, alongside four female ministers. Coalition chairman Ofir Katz, a close Netanyahu ally, is also a key figure in the race.

Among the new candidates, Tali Gottlieb stands out with strong grassroots support independent of party deals, causing concern among the party leadership. Other notable newcomers include Almog Cohen, Avichai Boaron, and Hanoch Milvitzky, who each have significant backing. Established Knesset members like Keti Shitrit, David Bitan, Amit Halevi, and Boaz Bismuth are also vying to maintain their positions amid fierce competition.

The battle among women in the party is particularly intense. Besides Regev, veteran minister Gila Gamliel is seeking advancement with new alliances, while other female candidates like Tali Gottlieb, Eti Atiya, Keti Shitrit, Idit Silman, Mai Golan, and Tzaga Malko are mobilizing support. Likud guarantees three realistic female representation slots at positions 10, 20, and 25, with the highest-vote female candidate jumping to the 25th spot. This has led to unprecedented efforts to rally support for women.

The reserved slot held by Minister Haim Katz, who is not running but commands a large voter base, now fully supports his ally Eti Atiya, amplifying her chances. This consolidation of power complicates the prospects for other female candidates. A senior party official noted that Netanyahu’s decision to reserve only five top spots makes campaign management difficult and criticized the preferential treatment given to Katz, calling it "unhealthy" for both the primaries and the party’s future.

The primaries will determine the Likud list for the next Knesset, with significant implications for the party’s leadership and gender representation.