Likud Primaries Spark Intense Battle Over Party List Ahead of 2026 Elections

The recent Likud primaries have set the stage for a fierce internal struggle over the party's candidate list for the upcoming 2026 elections. Eli Cohen emerged as the clear winner, securing the top spot and strengthening his political standing independently of his current ministerial role. His victory signals growing influence as discussions about Benjamin Netanyahu's succession begin to surface. Amir Ohana also demonstrated broad support across different Likud factions, reinforcing his position within the party.

Unexpected gains were made by candidates Ophir Katz and Almog Cohen, while veteran politicians Nir Barkat and Avi Dichter suffered significant setbacks. Barkat, once considered a leading figure for the post-Netanyahu era, now finds himself struggling to maintain a realistic spot on the list, which damages his political stature. Dichter's position is precarious and may be further threatened by the party's "push-out" clause, a mechanism that allows Netanyahu to adjust the list by replacing candidates with those he favors.

Netanyahu, who performed well in regional contests, now faces the complex task of deciding whom to protect with reserved slots and whom to push out, balancing the interests of loyalists and newcomers. The internal debate over these reserved slots is expected to be contentious, with some Likud secretariat members preparing to oppose certain appointments. This dispute could escalate to the party's court, which has shown sympathy toward candidates elected by party members over those placed by reserved slots.

One notable figure is Zvika Lerner, a religious Zionist and combat reservist recently elected in the Tel Aviv-Dan district, who could become a key asset for Netanyahu in appealing to religious and military voters. Netanyahu praised the primaries as a renewal driven by "common sense" rather than political deals, though many analysts note that traditional power brokers still hold significant sway.

The upcoming negotiations over the final list composition will test Netanyahu's ability to unify the party and prevent disgruntled candidates from becoming a source of internal conflict ahead of the general election campaign. The primaries have reshaped the internal power balance but left unresolved tensions that will dominate Likud's internal politics in the coming weeks.