2026 Likud primary

A primary election was held by Likud on 17 August 2026 to select its list of candidates ahead of the 2026 Israeli legislative election.

Background

Expanding reserved slots

Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu sought in May 2026 to expand the number of reserved slots which he could select on the party's electoral list, supporting a plan which would allow him to select 10 candidates.[1] Another option he considered was replacing the primaries entirely with a selection committee, which party member David Bitan strongly opposed.[2]

The Lod District Court postponed a scheduled 15 July vote to approve the plan, ruling that rather than the party's Central Committee, the electorate should be expanded to include Likud voters.[3]

The party's Constitution Committee met on 19 July, approving a plan that gave Netanyahu the right to select eight seats, in addition to allowing him to cancel primaries in the event of "wartime."[4] The Likud court intervened on 26 July, issuing a ruling that did not allow Netanyahu to cancel the primaries.[5]

The Central Committee voted on 27 July in favor of giving Netanyahu eight reserved slots.[6]

The party announced on 11 August that the Likud secretariat would be asked to approve three additional slots for Gideon Sa'ar, Israel Katz and Haim Katz.[7] Haim Katz's slot was frozen by the Likud court the same day.[8] The Likud secretariat approved the slots for Sa'ar and Israel Katz later that day.[9] The Likud court voted to approve Haim Katz's slot the following day.[10] Sitting MK Tally Gotliv was critical of the decision.[11] The reserved slots are reportedly a way for Netanyahu to dilute the strength of certain Likud members, such as Gotliv, Shlomo Karhi and May Golan, who are popular with the party's political base, but would be "less appealing to moderate right-wing and swing voters" during the general election.[12]

Regional district slots

On 4 August, the Likud court overturned a Central Committee vote from the previous week that would have allowed incumbent lawmakers and ministers to run for regional district spots. By returning those slots exclusively to political newcomers, the ruling eliminated a critical safety net for sitting MKs, making it significantly harder for them to secure realistic, winnable positions on the electoral list.[13]

The Tel Aviv District Court rejected the appeal of Likud MK Afif Abed on 10 August.[14] Abed stated that he would appeal the result.[15] Abed petitioned the High Court of Justice on 12 August, though the judges who heard the case were sceptical of intervening in the decision of an internal party court, with Abed withdrawing the appeal after arguments were heard.[16] The appeal was formally dismissed after the hearing, with the party court's ruling remaining in place.[17]

Withdrawals

On 13 August, Likud MK Eliyahu Revivo withdrew from the primary in protest of the decision. It was also reported the same day that several Likud MKs were considering defecting to the newly-founded Unity party of Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein, themselves former Likud ministers and MKs.[18] On 14 August, MKs Tsega Melaku and Moshe Passal announced they will not run in the primary.[19]

Process

Party members can vote for different types of seats; all registered party voters can vote for the national list. Regional seats are voted on according to member's geographic location, while there are additional seats set aside for representation, in addition to seats that are reserved for Netanyahu to select.[11]

Voters were able to vote for 12 candidates on the national list, in addition to one candidate in their region.[20]

The regional seats include 12 seats in "Jerusalem, West Bank and Shfela" as well as 10 seats for "Dan and Tel Aviv", four seats "in the Negev", five seats "in the Galilee and valleys", six seats for "the coastal plain", six seats "for "regional councils" and two seats allocated for "the Haifa district." The representation seats include a seat set aside for a youth candidate, seven allocated for immigrants, a seat set aside for young people, seven seats for immigrants, six seats for non-Jews, five set aside for those with disabilities, and 13 seats for women who are new to the party.[21]

107 polling sites were open during the election. It is anticipated that the finalized positions on the party's list will shift, due to Netanyahu's reserved seats and district seat allocations.[22]

Dates

The primary was scheduled to be held on 28 July, but it was delayed by the party's Constitution Committee on 29 June until 4 August.[23] The following month, the committee voted to postpone the primary until 17 August.[24]

Candidates

40 candidates will compete for national seats, while 84 candidates will run for either the reserved slots or regional positions.[21]

Candidates for the national list

The list of national and regional seat candidates was released on 13 August:[25]

National list

# Candidate Running for
1 Amir Ohana National list
2 Ze'ev Elkin National list
3 Dudi Amsalem National list
4 Avichai Boaron National list
5 David Bitan National list
6 Boaz Bismuth National list
7 Eil Ben Pinhas National list
8 Adi Baruch National list
9 Nir Barkat National list
10 Sasson Guetta National list
11 Tally Gotliv National list + women's representation
12 May Golan National list + women's representation
13 Gila Gamliel National list + women's representation
14 Uzi Dayan National list
15 Avi Dichter National list
16 Eli Dellal National list
17 Shalom Danino National list
18 Amit Halevi National list
19 Nissim Vaturi National list
20 Miki Zohar National list
21 Eli Cohen National list
22 Almog Cohen National list
23 Ofir Katz National list
24 Yariv Levin National list
25 Hanoch Milwidsky National list
26 Idit Silman National list + women's representation
27 Moshe Saada National list
28 Afif Abed National list
29 Eti Atiya National list + women's representation
31 Dror Kapach National list
32 Yoav Kisch National list
33 Shai Kahl National list
34 Ariel Kallner National list
35 Shlomo Karhi National list
36 Miri Regev National list + women's representation
37 Keti Shitrit National list + women's representation
38 Amichai Chikli National list
39 Osher Shekalim National list
40 Eli Shtivi National list

Youth representation

  • Netanel Ohayon
  • Ram Deutsch
  • Mai Hadar
  • Dror Lagali
  • Idan Mazuz
  • Dean Milou
  • Meir Orkabi
  • Victor Shrik

Non-Jewish representation

New Immigrant representation

  • Avraham Dzhurayev
  • Gebre Worko
  • Vitaly Chaikin
  • Pavel Yelizarov
  • Eddie Cohen
  • Shlomo Freinty
  • Kafri Yahia

Disability representation

  • Aharon Michaelis
  • Yehuda Sushard
  • Alex Fridman
  • Avichai Shasha
  • Shimon Sharel

New-woman representation

  • Keren Attias Bubli
  • Heli Holtzman
  • Osnat Zohar
  • Almaz Zero
  • Silva Mizrahi
  • Haya Malul Gaz
  • Nurit Menachem
  • Mara Maro Sanbeto
  • Ruth Kabessa Abramzon
  • Noa Shushan Barskin
  • Iris Stegman
  • Hila Shmueli-Smadar
  • Eti Talmi

District candidates

Jerusalem, Judea/Samaria & Shephelah

  1. Mishael Ben-Ami
  2. Yoel Ben-Shushan
  3. Yigal Brand
  4. Yair Gabai
  5. Gil Hadad
  6. Brian Thau
  7. Yonatan Yosef
  8. Gershon Mesika
  9. Jackie Pinto
  10. Shabtai Katash
  11. Dvir Shtriker
  12. Erez Tadmor

→ District position #27.

Tel Aviv

  1. Omri Akunis
  2. Kobi Gabriel
  3. Dor Harlap
  4. Shlomo Lerner
  5. Oren Magnazi
  6. Shlomo Muslai
  7. Sinai Kehat
  8. Elishiv Rabin
  9. Gal Shabtai
  10. Omri Simhai

→ District position #28.

Negev

  1. Elad Zamir
  2. Ezra Ozer
  3. Yossi Pitosi
  4. Moshe Benjamin Peretz

→ Position #30.

Galilee & valleys

  1. Shuki Ohana
  2. Lior Lasri
  3. Sharif Pers Abd
  4. Moshe Finian
  5. Yair Adi Freiman

→ Position #31.

Coastal plain

  1. Eli Alush
  2. Shai Galili
  3. Nimrod Maderer
  4. Avi Malchi
  5. Efi Nave
  6. Reuven Oded

→ Position #36.

Haifa

  1. Eyal Eli
  2. Zvi-El Rubin

→ Position #42.

Regional councils

  1. Rami Bardugo
  2. Matti Yogev
  3. David Magidish
  4. Sharon Saada
  5. Shai Shukron
  6. Kobi Shmuel

→ Position #37.

Netanyahu-selected seats

  1. Oren Dobronsky[26]
  2. Israel Katz
  3. Gideon Sa'ar[a]
  4. Haim Katz[28]
  5. Avi Dichter
  6. Michel Buskila[a]

A reserved slot was offered to Ofer Winter, but he declined it and formed his own party, Amcha Yisrael.[29]

Polls

Walla / Tel Aviv University[30] Agam Institute / Jerusalem Post[12] Elector / DRI[31]
Date 6 January 2026 May 2026 May 2026
Sample 1,223 Likud members 1,097 active Likud members ~1,189 Likud members
#1 Tally Gotliv Tally Gotliv Amir Ohana
#2 Amir Ohana Amir Ohana Tally Gotliv
#3 Moshe Saada Moshe Saada Almog Cohen
#4 Almog Cohen Eli Cohen Eli Cohen
#5 Israel Katz Boaz Bismuth Boaz Bismuth
#6 Boaz Bismuth Amichai Chikli Moshe Saada
#7 Eli Cohen Israel Katz Yariv Levin
#8 Amichai Chikli Miri Regev Amichai Chikli
#9 Miri Regev Yariv Levin Ofir Katz
#10 May Golan — Miri Regev
#11 Yariv Levin — —
#12 Nir Barkat — —
#13 Yoav Kisch — —

Conduct

Golan and MK Amit Halevi issued complaints against the Likud Central Election Committee and called for the vote count to be ended at the polling location in Yeroham, claiming that there were "repeated incidents of erasures, alterations, and vote markings" that did not match.[22]

The party did not extend voting hours in the primary, as it had done in previous elections.[32]

Minister Gila Gamliel could lose her high-ranking slot on the Likud list to MK Eti Atiya, with Gamliel's position shifting from the 25th slot to the 35th, following a recount. Gamliel accused Haim Katz, with whom Atiya is allied, of attempting to "steal the vote."[33] Gamliel submitted a police complaint after the party announced that it would hold a recount, following her appeal to the party's internal court.[34]

Results

Turnout was reported to be 53%, with 76,068 party members voting.[22] This marked a five per cent decrease compared to the previous primary.[35] Naama Lazimi, an MK with the opposition party The Democrats, noted her candidacy in her own party's primary earned her more votes than the total votes cast in the Likud primary.[36]

Ministers who are expected to lose their seats in the upcoming election include Nir Barkat, Zeev Elkin, Gila Gamliel, May Golan, Idit Silman and Avi Dichter. MKs who are likely to lose their seats include Amit Halevi, Avihai Boaron, Hanoch Milwidsky, Ariel Kallner and Nissim Vaturi.[37]

According to columnist Gil Hoffman, the primary demonstrated that Netanyahu has no powerful competitors within the party.[38]

The following Likud primary results were reported on 18 August 2026.[39][40]

List No. Determination method Selected candidate Votes[41]
1Party leaderBenjamin Netanyahu[b]N/A
2National listEli Cohen46,370
3Party leader's reservationTBDN/A
4Party leader's reservationIsrael KatzN/A
5Party leader's reservationGideon Sa'arN/A
6National listAmir Ohana43,259
7National listYariv Levin41,765
8National list — women's guaranteeMiri Regev38,228
9Party leader's reservationTBDN/A
10National listOfir Katz35,188
11Party leader's reservationOren DobronskyN/A
12National listYoav Kisch33,677
13National listMiki Zohar33,387
14National listAlmog Cohen28,998
15Party leader's reservationTBDN/A
16National listAmichai Chikli28,544
17National listDudi Amsalem27,787
18Party leader's reservationHaim KatzN/A
19National listMoshe Saada27,665
20National list — women's guaranteeTally Gotliv25,918
21National listShlomo Karhi24,383
22National listBoaz Bismuth24,283
23National listDavid Bitan24,256
24National listNir Barkat23,281
25National list — women's guaranteeGila Gamliel22,087
26Party leader's reservationTBDN/A
27Jerusalem/Judea-Samaria/Shephelah districtErez Tadmor11,086
28Tel Aviv districtShlomo Lerner5,033
29Party leader's reservationTBDN/A
30Negev districtMoshe Peretz4,835
31Galilee & Valleys districtShuki Ohana6,185
32National listZe'ev Elkin23,025
33National listAmit Halevi21,944
34New-woman representationKeren Atias Boublil7,478
35Regional Councils districtSharon Saada2,312
36Coastal Plain districtEfi Nave2,606
37National listEti Atiya21,663
38National listAvihai Boaron21,612
39Youth representationNetanel Ohayon4,370
40National list — women's guaranteeMay Golan19,332
41National listHanoch Milwidsky19,545
42Non-Jewish representationMula Mula4,115
43Haifa districtRubin Tzviel4,047
44New Immigrant representationGavra (Gabi) Worku3,159
45National listKeti Shitrit18,099
46Disability representationAlex Fridman1,384

Notes

  1. 1 2 Sa'ar and Buskila were given reserved seats as part of the merger between Likud and New Hope[27]
  2. ↑ Netanyahu did not participate in the primary.

References

  1. ↑ Azulay, Moran (21 May 2026). "Netanyahu backs plan for 10 reserved Likud slate spots, sparking party revolt". Ynet. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  2. ↑ Karmel, Ariela (22 June 2026). "Netanyahu set to gain unprecedented control over Likud slate in battle over primaries". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  3. ↑ Karmel, Ariela (16 July 2026). "Court orders Likud to postpone vote on expanding Netanyahu's control over party slate". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Neev, Keshet (19 July 2026). "Likud panel votes to expand Netanyahu's control over party list, wartime primary alternative". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah (26 July 2026). "'Not a one-man party': Likud court blocks wartime cancellation of primaries". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  6. ↑ Karmel, Ariela (28 July 2026). "Likud approves Netanyahu's plan to expand his control over party slate". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Baruch, Hezki (11 August 2026). "Likud's late night move: Reserved spots for Sa'ar, Israel Katz and Haim Katz". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  8. ↑ Neev, Keshet; Ben-Nun, Sarah (11 August 2026). "Likud court freezes Netanyahu's reserved slot on party list for Haim Katz". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Sokol, Sam (11 August 2026). "Likud approves reserved spots for Israel Katz and Sa'ar, freezes vote on Haim Katz". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Neev, Keshet; Ben-Nun, Sarah (12 August 2026). "Likud court approves Netanyahu's reserved Knesset slot for Haim Katz after freezing vote". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  11. 1 2 Neev, Keshet (16 August 2026). "Highly competitive Likud primaries set as Netanyahu holds expanded control over Knesset slate". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  12. 1 2 Sokol, Sam (16 August 2026). "Likud politicians ready to battle for shrinking number of spots in Monday primary". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  13. ↑ Sokol, Sam (4 August 2026). "In blow to Likud lawmakers, party court rules current MKs can't run for district spots". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah (10 August 2026). "Court rejects bid to let Likud MKs run in district slots, in setback for Netanyahu". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  15. ↑ Azulay, Moran (10 August 2026). "Likud to appeal district court decision: 'There appear to be irregularities in polling station associated with David Bitan'". Ynet. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  16. ↑ Sela, Uri (12 August 2026). "Supreme Court rejects appeal over Likud regional slots, backs party court ruling". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  17. ↑ Ben-Nun, Sarah (13 August 2026). "Likud MKs remain barred from district primary slots after Supreme Court appeal is withdrawn". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "דיווח: מספר ח"כים מהליכוד שוקלים לערוק למפלגה החדשה". Srugim (in Hebrew). 13 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Likud backbencher Tsega Melaku announces she won't run in party primaries". The Times of Israel. 14 August 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  20. ↑ Baruch, Hezki (17 August 2026). "Likud primaries: The battle heats up, Gotliv claims missing voting slips". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  21. 1 2 Azulay, Moran (13 August 2026). "40 candidates, 18 realistic slots: Likud primary sets up brutal battle for survival". Ynet. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  22. 1 2 3 Neev, Keshet (18 August 2026). "Netanyahu's new list: Eli Cohen wins top slot in tense Likud primaries". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  23. ↑ Karmel, Ariela (29 June 2026). "Likud postpones primaries to August 4 as Netanyahu fights for control of party slate". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Neev, Keshet (13 July 2026). "Likud panel expands Netanyahu's control over party list to reserve eight slots ahead of primaries". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  25. ↑ Azulay, Moran (13 August 2026). "Likud Publishes Final Candidate Lists for Primaries". Ynet. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  26. ↑ Azulay, Moran (10 August 2026). "Netanyahu taps 'Shark Tank' investor Oren Dobronsky for Likud election slate". Ynet. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  27. ↑ Azulay, Moran; Karni, Yuval; Halabi, Einav (26 August 2026). "Down to the wire: Knesset election slates take shape as deadline nears". Ynet. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  28. ↑ Silkoff, Shira (11 August 2026). "Sa'ar, Katz to get newly added reserved slots on Likud list, expanding PM's control". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "Yair Netanyahu criticizes Winter's new party as reports emerge over connection with PM". The Jerusalem Post. Maariv. 26 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  30. ↑ Baruch, Hezki (16 August 2026). "סקר הפריימריז בליכוד: גוטליב בצמרת". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  31. ↑ "May 2026, Elector + DRI".
  32. ↑ Azoulay, Moran (18 August 2026). "Netanyahu's Likud primary wins came with costly setbacks". Ynet. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  33. ↑ "Likud recount could push veteran minister out of Knesset as fraud claims roil party". The Times of Israel. 29 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  34. ↑ Solomon, Avi (26 August 2026). "Minister Gamliel files police complaint over Likud primary recount in Be'er Ya'akov". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
  35. ↑ Shpigel, Noa (18 August 2026). "Likud Primary Results: Which Netanyahu Lawmakers Topped the Party List – and Who's Out?". Haaretz. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  36. ↑ Barsky, Anna (18 August 2026). "'October 7, haredi-lite list': Eisenkot, Bennett, opposition leaders react to Likud's primaries". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  37. ↑ Issacharoff, Eli; Kroll, Ben (18 August 2026). "Likud's Casualty List: The Netanyahu Loyalists Headed Home After a Brutal Primary". Haaretz. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  38. ↑ Hoffman, Gil (18 August 2026). "Netanyahu emerges as the clear winner of Likud primary, without even being on the ballot- analysis". i24NEWS. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  39. ↑ Azoulay, Moran; Ettinger, Amir (18 August 2026). "תמה ספירת הקולות: התוצאות הסופיות בפריימריז הליכוד - והרשימה המסתמנת". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  40. ↑ Ben Atar, Yossi (18 August 2026). "הספירה הסתיימה: אלו התוצאות הסופיות של הפריימריז בליכוד". Srugim (in Hebrew). Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  41. ↑ "תוצאות ספירת קולות – ליכוד פריימריז 2026 - מפלגת הליכוד". www.likud.org.il. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
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