Eli Cohen, Yariv Levin, and Amir Ohana Lead Likud Primaries After 20% Vote Count

The Likud party primaries are underway, with preliminary results showing Eli Cohen, Yariv Levin, and Amir Ohana leading the race. Vote counting began after polling closed on Monday evening across 107 voting stations used by party members. The ballots will be transferred to Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv for a recount, with final results expected by morning. Voter turnout was 53.5%, totaling 75,177 voters, about 5% lower than in the previous primaries.

With approximately 20% of votes counted, the top candidates are followed by Miki Zohar, Miri Regev, Israel Katz, Yoav Kisch, and Amichai Shikli. Other candidates ranking further down include Almog Cohen, Moshe Saada, Tali Gottlieb, Avichai Boaron, Dudi Amsalem, Shlomo Karhi, David Bitan, Nir Barkat, Boaz Bismuth, Gila Gamliel, and Amit Halevi. Ministers Ze'ev Elkin, May Golan, Avi Dichter, and Idit Silman appear to be placed in nonviable positions, likely excluding them from the next Knesset.

Earlier, Minister May Golan and MK Amit Halevi filed complaints with the Likud Central Elections Committee demanding an immediate halt to vote counting at the Yeruham polling station. They alleged repeated incidents of erasures, alterations, and mismarked votes inconsistent with the announced candidate names, with corrections only made after observers intervened.

Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Miri Regev accused the El Al workers' union of trying to undermine her position on the list due to her efforts to expand Wizz Air's operations in Israel. Regev stated, "Whoever tells you 'Miri Regev is strong' wants to weaken me," adding that the union decided to remove her from the list because of her decision to bring Wizz Air. She affirmed her commitment to lowering flight prices despite opposition, saying, "No union will intimidate or blackmail me. The citizens of Israel are more important."