Likud Primaries Underway with 31% Voter Turnout and Netanyahu Backing Osnat Zoher

On Monday, 142,000 Likud party members across Israel began voting in the party's primaries to select candidates for the upcoming Knesset elections. Voting opened at 10:00 AM at 80 polling stations nationwide and will close at 10:00 PM. A total of 124 candidates are competing for spots on the party list, including 79 on the national list and 45 in regional districts. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly endorsed Osnat Zoher for the new women's slot on the list.

By early evening, approximately 43,730 members had voted, representing about 31% turnout. Throughout the day, several ministers and lawmakers cast their votes, including Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who emphasized the importance of completing judicial reforms, and Minister Dudi Amsalem, who called the day a "celebration of Likud democracy." Some incidents were reported, such as a brief suspension of voting in Bnei Brak due to legal concerns and allegations of forged ballots in some polling stations.

Controversy arose when reports emerged that some young ultra-Orthodox voters were paid 400 shekels to vote for specific candidates, raising concerns about vote-buying. MK Tali Gottlieb claimed some polling stations had forged forms bearing her name, which she said would be invalidated. Meanwhile, former minister Moshe Kahlon voted in Haifa, with Netanyahu reportedly considering granting him a reserved spot on the list.

The primaries are highly competitive, with only 17 realistic spots available up to the 30th place due to eight reserved slots for Netanyahu and allies. This means at least 14 current MKs and ministers may not secure a seat in the next Knesset. The final results will be tallied manually under legal supervision and announced late Monday night at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv.

Political tensions surfaced as Transportation Minister Miri Regev accused El Al airline workers' union of trying to undermine her candidacy by pressuring voters. Additionally, attention focused on MK Tali Gottlieb and Minister Nir Barkat, both reportedly viewed unfavorably by Netanyahu, who is concerned about their potential electoral impact. Barkat's request for a meeting with Netanyahu was declined, amid rumors he sought to oust the prime minister after the October 7 events, which Barkat denies.

Overall, the primaries reflect internal party struggles and strategic positioning ahead of the general elections, with judicial reform and party unity as central themes.