Likud Candidate Tzaga Malko Withdraws Three Days Before Primaries

Tzaga Malko, a member of the Knesset, announced her withdrawal from the Likud party primaries just three days before the scheduled vote. In a letter to Menachem Naaman, chairman of the Likud election committee, Malko stated that after reconsidering the process, she decided to exit the race for the 2026 Likud primaries. Her departure follows a series of recent withdrawals by other Knesset members, including Eliyahu Ravivo and Dan Illouz. Ravivo cited difficulties with the election system and reserved spots on the list, emphasizing that politics is a means to serve rather than an end in itself, and affirmed his commitment to the Likud and public service despite not running. The Likud primaries are set for the upcoming Monday, with a crowded field of candidates and reserved slots that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to secure, increasing uncertainty among contenders.