Netanyahu Considers Reserving Knesset Slot for Minister Avi Dichter After Primary Loss

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering reserving a Knesset seat for Minister Avi Dichter on the Likud party list after Dichter was removed from a realistic position by party members in the recent primaries. This reserved spot is typically held as a bargaining chip for the Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich, in case Netanyahu seeks to force a merger with another party. If Netanyahu does not need to use the reserved slot for that purpose, Dichter could benefit from it. The final decision on this reservation will be made closer to the list submission deadline and will not affect other reserved slots Netanyahu secured outside the party.

The primary vote count concluded on Tuesday morning, with Energy Minister Eli Cohen securing first place, followed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. MK Tali Gottlieb placed 20th, while Dichter, Minister Idit Silman, and MK Nissim Vaturi ended up in non-realistic positions. The weighted Likud list, including Netanyahu's reserved slots, features prominent figures such as Netanyahu, Eli Cohen, Israel Katz, Gideon Sa'ar, Amir Ohana, Yariv Levin, Miri Regev, and others. Netanyahu is reportedly aiming to "cleanse" the Likud of ultra-Orthodox members unlikely to vote for the party.