The Likud party’s internal power struggle is entering its final stage after a fiercely contested primary that drew roughly 54% of eligible voters.
With more than 90% of ballots counted on Tuesday, Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen appeared to be leading the field, with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Justice Minister Yariv Levin following closely behind.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev and coalition chairman Ofir Katz completed the provisional top five, giving senior government figures a strong showing in the emerging slate.
Ministers dominate the provisional top 10
The next positions were also largely occupied by prominent Likud figures.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch, Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar, Deputy Minister Almog Cohen, MK Dudi Amsalem and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli were all positioned within the provisional top 10.
The results, however, remained fluid as counting continued and several well-known lawmakers fought to secure positions that could determine their political futures.
Several Netanyahu rivals face a fight for survival
Among those battling for their places are MKs Tally Gotliv, Nir Barkat and David Bitan, all of whom were reportedly viewed as targets for political marginalization by figures close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Gotliv was provisionally ranked 12th, while Bitan stood at 14th.
Barkat was in 16th, separated from MK Ze’ev Elkin by fewer than 200 votes.
Other prominent Likud politicians appeared to be in a far more precarious position.
Women’s Advancement Minister May Golan, Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman and MKs Hanoch Milwidsky, Keti Shitrit, Ariel Kallner, Avi Dichter and Nissim Vaturi were outside positions considered realistic for winning Knesset seats.
Netanyahu’s reserved slots could dramatically reshape the list
The raw primary standings do not tell the entire story.
Reserved positions designated by Netanyahu can significantly alter the final order.
Candidates who finish as high as 17th in the primary could ultimately fall to around 25th on the adjusted slate.
District allocations add another layer of complexity. A candidate ranked 18th in the raw results, for example, could be placed as low as 32nd after the various adjustments are applied.
That means several candidates who appear secure—or vulnerable—based on the preliminary count could see their political fortunes change once the final slate is calculated.
More than 76,000 Likud members cast ballots
The primary began Monday, with voting stations operating from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Likud established 107 polling locations throughout the country, ranging from a club in Yehud to a gas station in Tamra, in an effort to accommodate members across different areas.
A total of 76,068 party members participated, producing a turnout of approximately 54%.
The result was a significant test of the strength of individual factions and political networks within the ruling party.
Allegations of irregularities trigger complaints
The counting process was also overshadowed by allegations of irregularities at a polling station in Yeruham.
Women’s Advancement Minister May Golan and MK Amit Halevi submitted complaints to the Likud Central Election Committee, calling for the count at the station to be halted.
They alleged that ballots and records were repeatedly erased or altered during the count and that some markings did not correspond with the candidate names being announced.
According to the complaints, certain discrepancies were corrected only after an observer intervened and demanded changes.
Golan and Halevi called for the immediate suspension of the count and requested that additional lawyers and Election Committee representatives be dispatched to oversee the process.
Gotliv raises separate allegations
The controversy widened after MK Tally Gotliv claimed that some polling stations had allegedly produced forged forms that omitted her name.
Her accusation came after political commentator Amit Segal reported that Netanyahu had received polling suggesting Likud could lose seats if Gotliv finished near the top of the party slate.
Netanyahu had reportedly told supporters that he trusted Likud members to make the appropriate decisions.
Gotliv responded on X by warning party members to remain vigilant, alleging that Likud officials and vote organizers were alarmed by the influence of independent voters.
The allegations added another layer of tension to an already bitter primary contest, although the claims remained disputed.
Netanyahu personally backs Osnat Zohar
Netanyahu also intervened directly in the race by publicly endorsing Osnat Zohar.
In a post on X, the prime minister said Zohar had worked for Likud and for him for years and that he would welcome her continued work in the Knesset.
The endorsement subsequently drew attention to another candidate, Keren Atias Bublil, after Netanyahu’s son Yair Netanyahu urged voters not to support her.
Yair linked Bublil to David Bitan, making the political significance of his intervention clear.
Bitan’s challenge to Netanyahu adds to the tension
Bitan has emerged as one of the most notable internal challengers to Netanyahu within Likud.
He was the only figure in the party to openly challenge Netanyahu’s push for reserved positions and attempt to block the move.
In the days leading up to the primary, Netanyahu posted videos promoting four candidates running in districts against candidates associated with Bitan.
The moves were widely interpreted as an effort to prevent Bitan from consolidating additional influence inside the party.
Final slate could reshape Likud’s internal balance
As the final votes are tallied, the primary is proving to be about more than simply determining which candidates appear on the next Likud list.
The results are exposing the competing factions inside Netanyahu’s party, with loyalists, independent lawmakers and political rivals all fighting for strategic positions.
With the final adjusted slate still dependent on reserved and district placements, the ultimate lineup could look markedly different from the preliminary results.
For Likud, the outcome will determine not only who is best positioned to enter the next Knesset, but also which internal power centers emerge strongest from one of the party’s most closely watched primary contests.
