Tali Gottlieb Leads Likud Voter Popularity Ahead of Primaries, Amir Ohana Second

A special poll conducted by "Ulpan Shishi" ahead of the Likud party primaries, scheduled for Monday, reveals a clear popularity ranking among Likud voters for their preferred Knesset members and ministers. The survey, which reflects the sentiment of Likud voters rather than official party members who vote in the primaries, shows Tali Gottlieb leading significantly with nearly 40% support as a must-have candidate on the party list.

Amir Ohana, the Knesset Speaker, follows in second place with 25.1% support, well ahead of other contenders. The poll highlights the competitive nature of the primaries, with only about 14 realistic spots available on the Likud list after reserved slots promised by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This means that at least half of the current ministers and Knesset members risk losing their seats.

Other notable figures in the top tier include Defense Minister Israel Katz with 18.1%, Economy Minister Nir Barkat at 17.8%, Transportation Minister Miri Regev at 15%, and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Shikli at 13%. The poll was conducted amid the "coup" controversy, and its full impact may not yet be reflected in the results.

Several senior ministers and prominent Knesset members are at risk of falling outside the realistic list positions, including Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi (4.7%), Education Minister Yoav Kisch (4.2%), Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz (3.5%), and Finance Committee Chairman Hanoch Milwitsky (2.5%). Environment Minister Idit Silman, who recently switched from the change government to Likud, also shows low support at 2.9%.

The survey was conducted online on August 13, 2026, with a sample of 407 Likud voters and a margin of error of ±4.9%. It used stratified random sampling methods to ensure statistical reliability.