Overview
- Reports this week say Netanyahu is considering three options for choosing Likud’s Knesset slate: keep primaries, scrap primaries in favor of a selection committee, or keep primaries but expand the chairman’s reserved slots.
- A draft legal opinion by Likud comptroller Shay Galili warns that abolishing primaries would require broad member approval and that a large expansion of chairman appointments could face legal obstacles.
- Party insiders report Netanyahu may seek roughly eight to ten realistically winnable reserved slots, a change that has alarmed incumbent lawmakers who fear losing their seats.
- Senior ministers and grassroots figures are resisting moves to curb member-driven primaries, and party officials say alleged organized and funded membership drives could distort future primary results.
- Party leaders expect Netanyahu to decide in the coming weeks as Likud intensifies election preparations and debates how to refresh its slate to attract younger and broader voters.