Likud Primaries Begin with 140,000 Voters and 124 Candidates Competing for Knesset List

The Likud party has launched its primary elections to determine the party's candidate list for the upcoming Knesset elections. Voting opened across Israel at 80 polling stations, with approximately 140,000 registered party members eligible to vote. A total of 124 candidates are competing, including 79 on the national list and 45 in regional districts. Each voter receives two ballots: one to select up to 12 candidates on the national list and another to choose one candidate from their district. Voting will continue until around 9 or 10 p.m., followed by a manual count overseen by Likud-appointed lawyers. Results will be centralized at the party's headquarters in Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv, with the final list expected to be clear late at night.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds eight reserved spots on the list (positions 3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 18, 26, and 29) and has already announced reservations for businessman Oren Dobronski, Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Likud Chairman Haim Katz. The competition is expected to be intense due to the limited realistic slots and these reserved positions.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Miri Regev criticized El Al Airlines, accusing the company of attempting to undermine her efforts to introduce Wizz Air to Israel. Regev claimed El Al pressured party members not to support her in the primaries, describing it as "part of the blackmail and threats" against her. As of 10:23 a.m., 1,770 voters had already cast their ballots.

The primaries are a crucial step in shaping the Likud's parliamentary representation and will influence the party's strategy and leadership ahead of the national elections.