Netanyahu Reserves Defense Minister Israel Katz’s Knesset Seat After Internal Poll

The Likud party’s announcement reserving a Knesset seat for Defense Minister Israel Katz was officially framed as a move to allow him to focus solely on national security matters. However, new details revealed by journalist Sima Kadmon in Yedioth Ahronoth suggest a different motivation behind the late-night decision. An internal in-depth poll conducted by the Agam Institute, led by Dr. Nimrod Nir, among Likud members showed alarming results for Katz. He ranked only 13th in member votes and dropped to 19th place overall after factoring in reserved slots and regional allocations.

On the same night the poll results emerged, Likud’s spokesperson issued an unusual statement at 1 a.m. confirming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to reserve a seat for Katz. The poll also indicated that two other senior ministers, Haim Katz and Gideon Sa’ar, were completely excluded from realistic list positions. The spokesperson’s statement clarified that Netanyahu’s reservations for these three ministers aimed to prevent their elimination in the party primaries.

This revelation highlights internal party dynamics and Netanyahu’s intervention to secure key figures’ parliamentary positions despite unfavorable member polling. The move ensures Katz and the other ministers remain on the Likud list for the upcoming Knesset elections, overriding the primary vote outcomes.