Netanyahu ally urges Likud to scrap primaries during wartime

Dimona Mayor Beni Biton, one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close allies, is calling on Likud to cancel its primaries ahead of the next election, arguing that Israel is in the middle of a war and should avoid internal leadership contests. In an interview with Walla, Biton said he and other Likud municipal leaders had raised the idea with Netanyahu in several recent meetings.

“This is an emergency order. We are at war. None of the other parties are holding primaries, and we are one of the only democratic parties still doing so,” Biton said. “I am in favor of elections, but in a state of war the primaries should be canceled.” He said the proposal came from mayors in the party and that they want to give the prime minister 10 reserved slots and build the list around the current slate, where there are open places.

Biton laid out a specific formula for the list, saying Netanyahu should get three reserved seats in the top 10, three more in the second 10, two in the third 10 and two in the fourth 10. He said an advisory committee could be formed, but the final say should rest with the prime minister. According to Biton, this would keep the list mostly stable, with all ministers and many leading MKs remaining in place. “If there are 10 new people from the prime minister’s reserved slots, that is good for the party,” he said.

He also dismissed fears among ministers and MKs about their future rankings. “Some people are just panicking,” Biton said, pointing to Defense Minister Israel Katz, who was elected 12th in the primaries and now serves as defense minister. He compared Netanyahu’s situation with other party leaders, asking why figures such as Naftali Bennett, Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman and Yair Lapid can determine their party lists but Netanyahu cannot. Biton said 90% of municipal leaders back the move and added that Likud can remain democratic while still letting the prime minister choose the list during wartime.