Hadar Mukhtar Leaves for Georgia After Failing to Qualify for Likud Primaries

Hadar Mukhtar, who campaigned for months to join the Likud party list for the upcoming Knesset elections, has left Israel for Georgia after failing to secure a special exemption needed to run in the party primaries. Mukhtar needed a shortened membership period (pazam) to qualify, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved this exemption for four other candidates while excluding her. This decision came just days before the primaries, effectively barring her from competing despite her extensive campaign efforts.

Mukhtar's spokesperson explained that she left for Georgia because she could not bear the primaries taking place without her participation. However, he emphasized that this is only a brief break and that she plans to return immediately after the primaries to continue her political activities with full force. Mukhtar herself expressed in an earlier interview her deep concern about the possibility of being denied the exemption and described the emotional toll, referencing her recovery from a previous political setback in 2022.

Despite the setback, Mukhtar remains determined to stay active in politics, telling her supporters that her political journey is far from over. The Likud primaries are currently underway as the party prepares its candidate list for the 2026 Knesset elections.