Yair Netanyahu Endorses Osnat Zohar Zani in Likud Primaries, Urges Against Voting for David Bitan

Yair Netanyahu, son of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, publicly endorsed Osnat Zohar Zani for the "New Woman" slot in the upcoming Likud party primaries. He shared his recommendation on social media, including a campaign photo of Zohar Zani and her ballot number, 216. Alongside this endorsement, Yair Netanyahu explicitly advised party members not to vote for Keren Atias Bublil, whom he linked to David Bitan, and also urged voters to avoid Bitan himself.

The Likud primaries, held on Monday, allow party members to select candidates for the next Knesset elections. Approximately 140,000 Likud members were eligible to vote nationwide, with polling stations open from early morning until 9 p.m. By mid-morning, Jerusalem recorded the highest turnout with 564 voters. Early reports indicated that over 14,000 votes had been cast, surpassing the turnout at the same point in the 2022 primaries.

There is concern within Prime Minister Netanyahu's office about potential shifts in the party list due to deals made during the primaries. Some loyal members of the Knesset, including Boaz Bismuth and Amichai Shikli, risk being excluded from the final Likud slate. Initial results from the primaries are expected late Monday night, with official outcomes to be clarified on Tuesday.