Comedian Guy Hochman Visits Likud Primaries, Highlights Party Atmosphere and Controversies
Comedian Guy Hochman attended the Likud party primaries on August 17, 2026, capturing the lively atmosphere and interactions with voters. Posting a video on his Instagram that quickly gained tens of thousands of views, Hochman humorously engaged with participants, asking why Likud succeeds. One answer was that the party represents the people and the homeland, to which Hochman jokingly added that the top five candidates are Ashkenazi Jews. During his visit, he also spotted a young man resembling the son of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, noting, "Even Ben-Gvir's son is here."
In a brief exchange, Hochman mentioned "transfer" as the most important issue, receiving the response "with God's help." The primaries opened nationwide from Eilat to Kiryat Shmona and will continue until 9 p.m. Approximately 140,000 registered Likud members are voting to determine the fate of 124 candidates, 79 on the national list and 45 in regional districts. The real competition centers on about 15 realistic spots due to the crowded field and reserved slots.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds the authority to assign eight reserved slots in key list positions (3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 18, 26, and 29), plus one reserved for Defense Minister Israel Katz. While Netanyahu has refrained from broad endorsements, he officially supports Knesset member Almog Cohen and regional candidates Erez Tadmor and attorney Shlomo Lerner.
Meanwhile, the contest for female representation in the Likud list is intensifying. Over 26,500 members have voted, with Netanyahu urging supporters to promote ministers Miri Regev and Idit Silman to high list positions, potentially at the expense of Knesset member Tali Gottlieb. The strategy aims to ensure Regev and Silman secure spots through reserved female representation slots, preventing Gottlieb's strong voter support from displacing them. More than 34,000 votes have been cast as the battle for the Likud list heats up.
