Likud Primaries Deliver Surprises with Almog Cohen's Rise and Nir Barkat's Struggle

The Likud party's primary results revealed several unexpected developments on Tuesday. Deputy Minister Almog Cohen, who entered the race just a week before voting began, surged to eighth place on the national list. This was a remarkable achievement given he competed against veteran ministers and long-standing Knesset members with established grassroots support.

Another surprise came from Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz, who secured fifth place, elevating his standing within the party ahead of the next Knesset. Meanwhile, MK Tali Gottlieb, who received significant media attention and was feared to rank very high, ultimately finished twelfth on the national list. With reserved spots and district representatives factored in, she is expected to be placed around twentieth on the final Likud list.

The biggest disappointment was former Jerusalem Mayor and Economy Minister Nir Barkat. Once a senior Likud figure, Barkat found himself far from the top of the list and is now fighting for the last realistic spot to remain in the Knesset. His future in the party remains uncertain as the competition intensifies.