Likud Candidate Smadar Mores Denies Withdrawing After Being Dropped From Primary List

Smadar Mores, an educator and political activist, expressed surprise after discovering her name was omitted from the final Likud primary candidate list ahead of the upcoming elections. She claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided not to shorten her candidacy period (pazem) without informing her, despite her participation in the candidates' conference just the previous evening in Tel Aviv. Mores said she received no official notification about the removal, neither by phone nor message, and was shocked to learn about it through numerous calls and messages.

Mores firmly denied rumors that she withdrew her candidacy, stating, "I am not a person who wavers and I did not remove my candidacy; I am continuing on this path." She explained that she had previously been assigned number 205 on the list, which indicated a realistic chance to run. She also noted that she had not previously joined the party due to her role as a school principal and her commitment to integrity within her community, but now she seeks to bring the voice of educators into the Likud party.

Despite her efforts, Mores said she has not received any response from Netanyahu's team since the list was published. Her case highlights internal party dynamics and communication issues ahead of the 2026 elections, as candidates vie for positions within the Likud primary race.