Netanyahu Moves to Secure Key Knesset Slots After Likud Primaries

Following the publication of the Likud primary results, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is entering the phase of allocating reserved Knesset seats, aiming to attract candidates with significant electoral value. Former Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon received a message from Netanyahu's camp assuring him a high spot on the list if he chooses to return to politics. Kahlon has neither accepted nor rejected the offer and told associates he has not yet decided on a political comeback. Recent Likud polls identified Kahlon as strongly associated with the issue of cost of living.

Each reserved seat now carries personal significance for Likud MKs, as those placed around slots 25 to 28 understand that any candidate Netanyahu places ahead of them could push them out of the next Knesset. This dynamic makes it harder for Netanyahu to add more reserved seats unless the candidates have clear electoral value. Incumbent MK Zehava Gal-On is also reportedly in consideration for a reserved spot.

Some sitting MKs who did not secure realistic positions will continue serving until the general elections and maintain influence within the party institutions. Netanyahu has been holding talks with these MKs, aware that those unlikely to return to the Knesset may be less loyal and could be courted by political rivals to challenge him, including through a constructive no-confidence motion. While no concrete moves have emerged, the possibility remains.

The primary process itself has faced legal challenges and voting irregularities, with manual counting underway under supervision. Minor discrepancies, especially regarding districts and reserved seats, could lead to further appeals to the Likud court. The final list will reveal not only the winners and losers but also the balance of power between party leaders and free voters, ideological trends rewarded within Likud, and how closely the list aligns with Netanyahu's preferences.

The next stage will focus on Netanyahu's use of reserved seats to modify the list chosen by party members, a move that will require navigating the interests of sitting MKs whose positions on the list could determine their political futures.