Likud Finance Committee Chair Hanoch Milwitsky Concedes Defeat in Primaries

Hanoch Milwitsky, chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee and a current Likud MK, publicly acknowledged his loss in the party's recent primaries, which determine the candidate list for the upcoming Knesset elections. Milwitsky failed to secure a realistic spot on the list, effectively putting his return to the Knesset in doubt.

In his first response since the results were announced, Milwitsky accepted the decision of the Likud members who voted, stating, "Democracy is democracy, even when the results are less favorable to you." He wished success to the newly elected candidates and noted that "great tasks and challenges lie ahead."

Milwitsky is the first incumbent Likud MK to publicly comment on being excluded from a viable position on the party list. His concession came amid significant shifts in the party's lineup, with several prominent ministers and MKs, including May Golan, Idit Silman, Avi Dichter, Nissim Vaturi, and Ariel Kallner, also failing to secure realistic spots.

The primaries underscore the competitive nature of Likud's internal elections, where even sitting MKs must win the confidence of party members anew. Milwitsky's loss is notable given his influential role as Finance Committee chair, highlighting the unpredictable dynamics within the party ahead of the 2026 elections.