Hadera Likud Branch Denies Claims of Removing Justice Minister Levin from Recommended List Ahead of Primaries

A political controversy erupted in the Hadera Likud branch following reports that chairman Shlomo Bozaglo had struck a deal with local ultra-Orthodox representatives to remove Justice Minister Yariv Levin from the branch's recommended candidates list. The alleged aim was to promote Minister Eli Cohen to the top spot in the upcoming primaries. Levin, a long-respected figure in the local branch, sparked unrest among party activists due to these rumors.

Bozaglo swiftly issued a firm denial, calling the claims "baseless lies" spread by "small-minded individuals" attempting to sow division within the party. He emphasized the branch's unwavering support for Levin, stating, "We, along with the mayor, give full and unequivocal backing to Yariv Levin. He is a trusted partner and has our loyal support for many years, which will continue."

Sources close to Bozaglo highlighted the branch's longstanding loyalty to Levin and dismissed the alleged deal as a transparent political maneuver by self-interested actors seeking to undermine unity in Hadera. The dispute underscores tensions ahead of the 2026 elections and the Likud primaries, with both Levin and Cohen prominent figures in the local political landscape.