Netanyahu Could Push Nir Barkat Out of Likely Knesset Slot Using Party Rules

Nir Barkat is expected to be placed at the 24th spot on the Likud party list, the last realistic position to secure a Knesset seat. However, political precedent suggests that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could use party regulations to demote Barkat further down the list. In 2009, Netanyahu employed a creative interpretation of the party's primary rules to push Moshe Feiglin from a viable position to 36th place, effectively excluding him from the Knesset when Likud won 27 seats.

Currently, Netanyahu could reserve the 24th spot for Michel Buskila from the New Hope party, which would push Barkat back to 32nd place, a nonviable position for election, according to political analyst Amit Segal. This maneuver would effectively remove Barkat from the top of the party list and the Knesset.

Tensions between Barkat and Netanyahu reportedly escalated after the October 7 massacre, with rumors that Barkat attempted to oust Netanyahu. Barkat denied these claims, stating in a Kan 11 interview that he has always been loyal to Netanyahu and considers him the best person to lead the country. He accused his opponents of trying to eliminate him politically, asserting his continued support for the prime minister.