Netanyahu Targets Favorites in Likud List Battle as Reserved Seats Await Post-Primaries

Ahead of the 2026 elections, about 34 Likud ministers and Knesset members are competing for roughly 17 realistic spots on the party's national list. Key figures like Omer Ohana and Eli Cohen are positioned at the top, while Shalom Danino could emerge as a surprise contender. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently intensified his involvement, not only in the national list but also in the regional districts, reportedly considering pushing district candidates to less viable positions to free up slots on the national list and allowing incumbent MKs to run there.

Following the primaries vote count, Netanyahu faces a tougher challenge in allocating the remaining reserved seats ("shriyounim") within the party secretariat. The Likud court ruled that secretariat members must receive 48 hours’ notice before voting on reserved seats, recommending in-person discussions where arguments for and against candidates are heard. At this stage, each MK will know their ranking and the implications of each additional reserved seat. Those finishing on the borderline or outside realistic spots will have to vote for candidates whose placement might push them further down the list.

Sources within Likud suggest Netanyahu may ultimately use fewer reserved seats than expected, as it will be difficult to convince secretariat members to approve candidates lacking significant public or electoral weight. Netanyahu might settle for one or two reserved seats if he can recruit high-profile candidates to justify their placement ahead of those elected in the primaries. His current struggle to attract prominent names supports this possibility.

The results from the upcoming Monday vote will determine how much freedom Netanyahu retains in shaping the final list. Only after the vote count will it be clear which incumbent MKs have been pushed back, who remains at risk, and what political cost Netanyahu might pay if he seeks to use the reserved seats still under his control.