Idit Silman Falls Short in Likud Primaries After Political Rise and Fall

Idit Silman, a prominent figure in Israeli politics who rose through the ranks from the New Right party and served as coalition chair in the Bennett-Lapid government, failed to secure a seat in the upcoming Knesset after the recent Likud primaries. Despite receiving 17,850 votes, Silman did not make it into the top 40 candidates, effectively ending her current political tenure. Silman had been a key player in maintaining the coalition government, which included diverse parties such as Meretz and Mansour Abbas's Ra'am, but pressure from within Likud eventually led to her departure from the coalition, contributing to the government's collapse.

Silman’s political journey was marked by controversy, with many Likud members viewing her as prioritizing personal interests over ideology. Although publicly supported by the right-wing, she lacked strong backing from party leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who did not endorse her in the primaries. Netanyahu expressed satisfaction with the overall primary results, praising the new list for its renewal and strength, but Silman was notably absent from his support.

The new Likud list features prominent figures such as Eli Cohen, Amir Ohana, and Miri Regev in the top ten without reserved spots, while Silman was placed 25th, outside the realistic range for election. Other notable politicians like Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter and Social Equality Minister May Golan also ranked low, with Golan possibly joining Otzma Yehudit through Itamar Ben-Gvir’s support. Ze'ev Elkin, returning to Likud with Gideon Sa'ar, ranked 17th, just below Nir Barkat, the last candidate considered realistically electable.

Silman’s political future remains uncertain, but sources suggest she may seek a comeback. The primaries reflect a reshuffling within Likud, emphasizing new leadership and coalition-building ahead of the next election cycle.