Netanyahu May Use Party Rules to Oust Nir Barkat from Likud's Final Knesset Slot

As the Likud primary vote count nears completion with 98% tallied, a tense battle unfolds over the party's last realistic Knesset slot. Former Jerusalem mayor and current Economy Minister Nir Barkat, once a top Likud contender, is plummeting into the third tier of the list. Barkat is narrowly leading over Ze'ev Elkin by only a few hundred votes for the 24th spot, the final viable position for entering the next Knesset.

Despite this close race, Barkat's true threat may not come from the vote count but from internal party maneuvers. Historically, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demonstrated flexibility with Likud's rules to sideline candidates he views as problematic. In 2009, Netanyahu reinterpreted party regulations to remove Moshe Feiglin from a winnable slot despite his electoral success.

Now, a similar scenario could unfold targeting Barkat. Netanyahu could strategically reserve the 24th slot for Michal Buskila, a member of Gideon Sa'ar's "New Hope" party, effectively pushing Barkat down to 32nd place. This position is considered unelectable, likely ending Barkat's Knesset career. Such a move would bypass the primary results and create a dramatic political shift within the Likud list.

The final outcome remains uncertain as the vote count concludes, but Barkat's political survival appears increasingly precarious amid these internal power plays. Netanyahu's potential intervention underscores the ongoing struggle for influence within the party ahead of the upcoming elections.