Deputy Minister Almog Cohen Joins Likud Primaries with Netanyahu's Endorsement

Deputy Minister Almog Cohen officially announced on August 12, 2026, that he will run in the Likud party primaries. Cohen, who was previously elected to the Knesset as a member of Otzma Yehudit, left the party and received a shortened waiting period ("pazam") from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who welcomed him into Likud. In a video released alongside the announcement, Netanyahu praised Cohen as a fighter and a man of the Negev, highlighting Cohen's efforts to promote the establishment of an airport in the Negev region. Netanyahu also thanked Cohen for his decisive vote in passing the budget.

Cohen's transition to Likud follows his role in resolving a coalition crisis in April 2025 involving Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. At that time, amid government resignations and threats of withdrawal by Smotrich, Cohen resigned from the Knesset under the Norwegian Law and was appointed Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. A former Yasam commando and resident of Ofakim, Cohen fought during the October 7 attacks in his hometown and later disclosed in a Knesset committee hearing that he has been receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, encouraging others to seek mental health support without shame.

This move marks a significant political shift for Cohen, who was once a member of Otzma Yehudit, a far-right party, and now seeks to establish himself within Likud ahead of upcoming elections.