Netanyahu Considers Reserving Knesset Seats for Likud Members Demoted in Primaries

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering reserving spots on the Likud party list for Knesset members who were pushed down in the recent primaries, according to Kan News on Thursday. Discussions in Netanyahu's circle focused on reserving seats for female MKs Tzvia Malka and Keti Shitrit, addressing the low number of women placed in realistic positions. Malka is also seen as a potential vote-getter from the Ethiopian-Israeli community.

Additional reservation possibilities include Minister Zeev Elkin, who is believed to attract votes from immigrants from former Soviet states, and MK Hanoch Milwitsky, with some Haredi parties advocating for his inclusion. However, some Likud MKs in borderline list positions expressed opposition, threatening to block any move to push them back in favor of reserved candidates. They argued that reservations were intended to bring in new "stars" from outside the party, not to support incumbents rejected by primary voters.

Elkin responded in a Kan Reshet Bet interview, denying any talks about a reserved spot for him and emphasizing his strong primary showing with 23,000 votes. The primaries, held two days earlier, placed Energy Minister Eli Cohen first, followed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. MK Tali Gottlieb ranked 20th, while ministers Idith Silman and Avi Dichter, as well as MK Nissim Vaturi, did not secure realistic list positions.