Netanyahu Secures Control Over Likud Primaries Amid Internal Party Struggles

The recent Likud primaries, held on August 19, 2026, appeared as a grand entertainment spectacle featuring AI-generated songs by ministers and unusual campaign antics. However, behind the scenes, a fierce battle unfolded over the future direction of Israel's ruling party. Political analyst Michael Hauser-Tov detailed how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was deeply involved throughout the process, from attempting to cancel the primaries to influencing candidate selection and ultimately endorsing the results.

Netanyahu’s main challenge was managing the party’s image and internal factions. The Likud is composed of diverse right-wing streams, including a more extreme wing represented by figures like Mai Golan and Tali Gottlieb, who challenged Netanyahu’s leadership. Netanyahu aimed to preserve Likud’s status as a central ruling party rather than allowing it to fragment into marginal groups. This struggle reflected broader concerns about the party’s shrinking voter base amid right-wing voters shifting support to other leaders like Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett.

In a tactical move to maintain control, Netanyahu sought to cancel the primaries but faced resistance from party members who insisted on voting rights. When that failed, he used his power to reserve eight spots on the list, including one for Israel Katz, to secure loyal candidates. Notably, Netanyahu surprised many by reserving a spot for Oren Dobronski, a tech entrepreneur and former participant on the show "Shark Tank." Meanwhile, veteran politicians like David Bitan and Nir Barkat were pushed down the list, signaling Netanyahu’s effort to sideline more vocal or potentially disloyal figures.

Rumors and leaks circulated before the vote, seemingly orchestrated by Netanyahu’s camp to discredit rivals and influence voters. Eli Cohen topped the national list by avoiding controversy and negative campaigns against him. The primaries concluded with 54% of Likud members voting in person, and the party’s top tier remained dominated by established ministers such as Amir Ohana, Yariv Levin, and Miri Regev. Netanyahu succeeded in limiting the influence of the more extreme faction within the top ten, but the internal struggle over Likud’s identity continues.

The future direction of Likud, whether it remains a center-right party or becomes a satellite of religious-nationalist groups like Otzma Yehudit, may only be resolved after Netanyahu’s tenure. For now, Netanyahu’s word remains decisive, though his history suggests it may only hold temporarily.