2026 Likud primary
Israeli political party election
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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] It is thought that as many as half of the sitting MKs could lose their seats in the upcoming election.[14]
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.[15] On 14 August, MKs Tsega Melaku and Moshe Passal announced they will not run in the primary.[16]
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.[17]
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.[18]
Dates
Candidates
40 candidates will compete for national seats, while 84 candidates will run for either the reserved slots or regional positions.[18]
Candidates for the national list
The list of national and regional seat candidates was released on 13 August:[21]
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
- Razi Abu Kaf
- Samir Zidan
- Mula Mula
- Osama Nabwani
- Ayoob Kara
- Shachiv Shnaan
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
- Mishael Ben-Ami
- Yoel Ben-Shushan
- Yigal Brand
- Yair Gabai
- Gil Hadad
- Brian Thau
- Yonatan Yosef
- Gershon Mesika
- Jackie Pinto
- Shabtai Katash
- Dvir Shtriker
- Erez Tadmor
→ District position #27.
Tel Aviv
- Omri Akunis
- Kobi Gabriel
- Dor Harlap
- Shlomo Lerner
- Oren Magnazi
- Shlomo Muslai
- Sinai Kehat
- Elishiv Rabin
- Gal Shabtai
- Omri Simhai
→ District position #28.
Negev
- Elad Zamir
- Ezra Ozer
- Yossi Pitosi
- Moshe Benjamin Peretz
→ Position #30.
Galilee & valleys
- Shuki Ohana
- Lior Lasri
- Sharif Pers Abd
- Moshe Finian
- Yair Adi Freiman
→ Position #31.
Coastal plain
- Eli Alush
- Shai Galili
- Nimrod Maderer
- Avi Malchi
- Efi Nave
- Reuven Oded
→ Position #36.
Haifa
- Eyal Eli
- Zvi-El Rubin
→ Position #42.
Regional councils
- Rami Bardugo
- Matti Yogev
- David Magidish
- Sharon Saada
- Shai Shukron
- Kobi Shmuel
→ Position #37.
Netanyahu-selected seats
Netanyahu has already selected four candidates, out of eleven in total:
Polls
| Walla / Tel Aviv University[24] | Agam Institute / Jerusalem Post[12] | Elector / DRI[25] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Kish | — | — |
Results
Turnout was reported to be 53%, with 76,068 party members voting.[26] 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.[27]
The following Likud primary results were reported on 18 August 2026.[28][29]
| List No. | Determination method | Selected candidate | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Party leader | Benjamin Netanyahu[a] | N/A |
| 2 | National list | Eli Cohen | |
| 3 | Party leader's reservation | TBD | N/A |
| 4 | Party leader's reservation | Israel Katz | N/A |
| 5 | Party leader's reservation | Gideon Sa'ar | N/A |
| 6 | National list | Amir Ohana | |
| 7 | National list | Yariv Levin | |
| 8 | National list — women's guarantee | Miri Regev | |
| 9 | Party leader's reservation | TBD | N/A |
| 10 | National list | Ofir Katz | |
| 11 | Party leader's reservation | Oren Dobronsky | N/A |
| 12 | National list | Yoav Kisch | |
| 13 | National list | Miki Zohar | |
| 14 | National list | Almog Cohen | |
| 15 | Party leader's reservation | TBD | N/A |
| 16 | National list | Amichai Chikli | |
| 17 | National list | Dudi Amsalem | |
| 18 | Party leader's reservation | Haim Katz | N/A |
| 19 | National list | Moshe Saada | |
| 20 | National list — women's guarantee | Tally Gotliv | |
| 21 | National list | Shlomo Karhi | |
| 22 | National list | David Bitan | |
| 23 | National list | Boaz Bismuth | |
| 24 | National list | Nir Barkat | |
| 25 | National list — women's guarantee | Gila Gamliel | |
| 26 | Party leader's reservation | TBD | N/A |
| 27 | Jerusalem/Judea-Samaria/Shephelah district | Erez Tadmor | |
| 28 | Tel Aviv district | Shlomo Lerner | |
| 29 | Party leader's reservation | TBD | N/A |
| 30 | Negev district | Moshe Peretz | |
| 31 | Galilee & Valleys district | Shuki Ohana | |
| 32 | National list | Ze'ev Elkin | |
| 33 | National list | Amit Halevi | |
| 34 | New-woman representation | Keren Atias Boublil | |
| 35 | Regional Councils district | Sharon Saada | |
| 36 | Coastal Plain district | Efi Nave | |
| 37 | National list | Avihai Boaron | |
| 38 | National list | Eti Atiya | |
| 39 | Youth representation | Netanel Ohayon | |
| 40 | National list — women's guarantee | May Golan | |
| 41 | National list | ||
| 42 | Non-Jewish representation | ||
| 43 | Haifa district | ||
| 44 | New Immigrant representation | ||
| 45 | National list | ||
| 46 | Disability representation |
Notes
- Netanyahu did not participate in the primary.
