Eli Cohen Leads Likud Primary as Half of Votes Counted, Yariv Levin Trails

The counting of ballots for the Likud primary continued through the night, reaching the halfway mark at approximately 05:30 Jerusalem time. The current standings reflect a strong performance by the party's established security and ministerial figures, though the final order remains subject to change as the remaining 50% of votes are processed.

Current Standings and Top Tier

According to reports from i24NEWS and N12, Energy Minister Eli Cohen has maintained a consistent lead throughout the night. He is followed by Yariv Levin and Amir Ohana, who have both secured spots in the top five. Miri Regev currently stands as the highest-ranking woman on the list, followed by Tali Gottlieb. Other figures showing strength in the interim count include Ofir Katz and Miki Zohar, the latter of whom is described as a surprise high-performer in the current rankings.

Ministers at Risk

The interim results highlight a precarious situation for several incumbent cabinet members. As of the 50% mark, Ministers Avi Dichter, May Golan, and Idit Silman are positioned in non-realistic slots, potentially leaving them out of the next Knesset. Nir Barkat, who started the night in a stronger position, has seen a steady decline in the rankings, currently fighting for a spot at the bottom of the realistic list.

Internal Competition and New Faces

The race for reserved slots is also tightening. A very close battle is reported between Gila Gamliel and Etty Atia for the 25th spot, which is reserved for female representation. Meanwhile, Almog Cohen has shown a strong performance, maintaining a solid position within the realistic range. Conversely, several sitting MKs, including Dan Illouz, Hanoch Milwidsky, and Nissim Vaturi, are currently trending toward exclusion from the list.

As The Zioneer reported earlier, the primary saw a national turnout of approximately 53%. While the current results provide a clear trend, party officials caution that the final tally—expected later Tuesday—could still be influenced by large voting blocs and regional ballots that have yet to be fully integrated into the national count.