Netanyahu Pushes Miri Regev and Idit Silman in Likud Primaries at Tali Gottlieb's Expense

As the Likud primaries intensify with over 26,500 members voting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is actively promoting the advancement of ministers Miri Regev and Idit Silman to higher list positions, potentially at the expense of Knesset member Tali Gottlieb. Netanyahu's strategy is based on the assessment that Gottlieb will secure a high spot regardless, allowing him to use the reserved women's slots to ensure Regev and Silman remain in promising positions on the party list.

This maneuver aims to balance the representation of women in the Likud list while preventing Gottlieb's strong grassroots support from displacing Regev and Silman. Meanwhile, a separate contest for a new women's slot sees Netanyahu's team reportedly backing Ruth Kabsa Yakobzon, despite Netanyahu's public endorsement of Osnat Zohar earlier the same day.

The primaries' outcome is critical not only for vote counts but also for final placements influenced by reserved slots designed to guarantee representation for various groups. Netanyahu's office is also concerned about internal deals that might push loyal MKs like Boaz Bismuth and Amichai Shikli off the list. Netanyahu has refrained from issuing a full recommendation list but officially supports MK Almog Cohen and regional candidates Erez Tadmor and Shlomo Lerner, with Zohar recently added to the endorsed list.

During the voting, Gottlieb accused Likud activists of distributing ballots without her name, alleging attempts to undermine her candidacy. Additionally, reports surfaced of Netanyahu convening an emergency meeting after learning of Gottlieb's and Minister May Golan's possible talks to join Itamar Ben-Gvir's party, which Netanyahu found "disturbing" but chose not to interfere with the primaries. Likud faction leaders have also worked to remove Gottlieb from recommendation lists amid the ongoing internal competition.