Netanyahu Publicly Backs Select Candidates Ahead of Likud Primaries

Ahead of the Likud party primaries, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly endorsed four candidates through support videos, signaling his preferences for the party list. According to journalist Yinon Magal, Netanyahu has shown explicit backing for attorney Shlomo Lerner in the Dan-Tel Aviv district, Erez Tadmor in Jerusalem, Shuki Ohana in the Galilee and Valleys district, and Knesset member Almog Cohen on the national list.

Sources close to Netanyahu revealed that he supports candidates running against associates of Knesset member David Bitan in various districts. Beyond district races, Netanyahu also has preferences for other slots on the national list, favoring candidates such as Osnat Zohar and Dr. Ruth Kabbasa-Avramzon for the new women's slot. He is also interested in promoting Amit Levi, Idit Silman, Ariel Kallner, and would like to see Miri Regev placed as the top woman on the Likud list. Another candidate he supports is Avichai Boaron.

While Netanyahu is monitoring the campaign of Tali Gottlieb, he is reportedly concerned that her success could be too strong, though he does not intend to interfere or oppose her candidacy. The four public support videos represent the candidates Netanyahu has openly backed so far, with other preferences still unpublicized but reflective of the party list he hopes to see after the primaries.

The primaries are a critical step in shaping the Likud party's candidate list ahead of upcoming elections, with Netanyahu actively influencing the outcome to strengthen his allies and preferred figures within the party.