On the eve of the Likud party primaries, tensions are at an all-time high as reports indicate that approximately 14 incumbent Knesset members and ministers are expected to be pushed out of realistic spots on the party's Knesset list. The Likud's internal political landscape is turbulent, marked by power struggles and legal and political disagreements. At the center of recent events is MK Tali Gottlieb, who filed a petition with the Likud internal tribunal against the reserved spot for Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Gottlieb claimed the reservation was improper but chose to withdraw the petition after discussions with the tribunal president, Michael Kleiner. In its decision, the tribunal noted that the conduct of Minister Katz, who campaigned until the last moment while the reservation was finalized behind closed doors, constituted a procedural flaw that should not have occurred. Simultaneously, Minister Nir Barkat attempted to resolve political issues with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against the backdrop of reports that Barkat had tried to replace Netanyahu early in the war following October 7.
Barkat’s attempts to coordinate a meeting with Netanyahu were rejected by the Prime Minister's Office, which stated that there was no need, leaving Barkat to face the primary race independently. While Netanyahu kept his distance from Barkat, it was reported that he acted differently toward other candidates, including MK Almog Cohen, who received seniority adjustments and a supporting video, and MK Avihai Boaron, who received support for an official role as field array manager.
The current political structure presents a complex challenge for candidates: following the reservations set by Netanyahu and the engineering of the top ten, only 15 realistic spots remain for men up to the 30th place, alongside three spots for women. This competition results in the most crowded primary in recent years, with about 80 candidates fighting for a place on the list. The political dynamics include extensive logistical organization, the use of WhatsApp recommendation lists by organized members—who constitute about 40% of the total voters—and a phenomenon known in the party as "elimination lists" aimed at lowering certain candidates in the rankings. The primary results are expected to be clear during the night following the opening of the polls.