Likud Primaries Reshape Party List with New Leaders and Notable Exclusions

The final results of the Likud party primaries, announced on Tuesday, have defined the party's candidate list for the upcoming 26th Knesset elections, pending the allocation of reserved slots. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured the top spot, followed by Eli Cohen in second place. Other prominent figures ranking high include Israel Katz in fourth, Amir Ohana sixth, and Yariv Levin seventh. Miri Regev leads the female candidates at eighth place, with Tali Gottlieb at twentieth.

Several incumbent ministers and Knesset members failed to secure a spot on the list, including Avi Dichter, Idit Silman, Mai Golan, and Hanoch Milwitsky, the latter publicly accepting his loss and wishing success to the chosen candidates. Notably, Nir Barkat dropped significantly to 24th place, while David Bitan maintained his position at 21st despite internal challenges. Almog Cohen achieved a notable 14th place ranking.

The list includes several reserved slots (third, fifth, ninth, eleventh, twenty-sixth, and twenty-ninth places), which Netanyahu can fill with candidates who did not succeed in the primaries, allowing him influence over the final composition. Over 75,000 Likud members participated in the primaries, which reflected internal party power dynamics and resulted in both expected and surprising outcomes. The final list balances veteran leaders with rising figures, while some well-known party members were excluded.

Among women candidates, Gila Gamliel ranked 25th, and Keren Atias Bublil entered at 34th through a new women's representation slot. However, several female incumbents, including Silman and Golan, did not make the list. The results highlight the ongoing shifts within Likud ahead of the elections and set the stage for Netanyahu's strategic use of reserved slots to finalize the party's lineup.