Nir Barkat Narrowly Secures Knesset Spot Amid Internal Likud Rivalry

Nir Barkat, who was reported by Channel 12 as attempting to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after October 7, finished 16th in the Likud primaries. This position places him in a precarious spot for entering the next Knesset, as he stands at number 24 after the allocation of party list slots and districts, while most polls project Likud winning 22-23 seats.

Barkat, once considered Netanyahu's potential successor and a powerful figure within Likud, appears to have lost ground due to behind-the-scenes efforts by Netanyahu loyalists who urged voters not to support him. However, Barkat was saved from falling to 32nd place by a secretive afternoon meeting of Gur Hasidim supporters, who recommended his name and aimed to retaliate against Netanyahu by giving him around 1,000 votes. This margin was crucial, as Barkat finished just 150 votes ahead of Ze'ev Elkin.

A senior Likud official proudly stated that they managed to disrupt a Supreme Court ruling. Additionally, reports indicate that Barkat recently sought a photo opportunity with Netanyahu to signal reconciliation, but Netanyahu's office declined the request.