Netanyahu Strengthens Control in Likud Primaries Amid Internal Struggles and New Faces

The recent Likud primaries revealed a partial success for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in consolidating his influence within the party. While some targeted members like Tali Gottlieb, David Bitan, and Nir Barkat remain in the Knesset list, their positions reflect ongoing internal tensions. Netanyahu’s supporters now dominate the realistic slots on the list, signaling a more disciplined Likud aligned with him. Bitan notably survived an attempt to remove him despite leading opposition against Netanyahu, highlighting his independent political strength.

The primaries also saw Netanyahu favoring the old guard in the top ten, sidelining newer candidates such as Avichai Boaron, Amit Levi, and Avi Dichter, who were pushed down to the fourth tier. Meanwhile, three newcomers, Amichai Shikli, Moshe Saada, and Almog Cohen, rose sharply in the rankings without relying on traditional party deals, marking a significant development in Likud’s internal dynamics.

Veteran politicians Eli Cohen and Yariv Levin secured strong support, while Miki Zohar and Miri Regev improved their standings despite earlier doubts about their popularity. Both ran effective campaigns that mobilized both organized and grassroots support. Notably, the number of religiously observant candidates with kippot in realistic list positions has decreased, with only Saada and Karei remaining, as several current MKs with kippot are leaving the Knesset.

The primaries’ outcome also impacts the future of the coalition investigation committee bill, initiated by Ariel Kallner, who failed to secure a strong position and will not serve in the next Knesset. This jeopardizes the bill’s continuity and suggests it may be shelved. Overall, the results underscore Netanyahu’s strengthened hold over Likud but also highlight unresolved factional disputes and the emergence of new political actors within the party.