Netanyahu Pushes to Reserve Top-10 Likud Slots for Sa'ar, Kahlon

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is actively seeking to reshape the Likud's top tier by securing reserved spots for veteran political figures Gideon Sa'ar and Moshe Kahlon. According to reports reviewed by The Zioneer Intelligence Desk, the Prime Minister is also considering a similar reservation for Haim Bivas, the chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities.

The Shift Toward a Selection Committee

The proposed reservations are part of a broader effort to overhaul how the Likud determines its electoral slate. The party is scheduled to meet this Wednesday to debate replacing its traditional primary system with a "selection committee" (Va'ada Mesaderet). This shift would grant the party leadership significantly more control over the composition of the list, bypassing the thousands of party members who typically vote in primaries.

Internal Friction and Strategic Goals

This move follows weeks of intensifying internal debate within the Likud. Prior reports indicate that senior party figures have resisted Netanyahu's demand for up to ten reserved slots, with some arguing that if the Prime Minister is to have such control, the primary system should be scrapped entirely. The inclusion of Sa'ar and Kahlon—both of whom have had complex relationships with Netanyahu in the past—suggests a strategic effort to consolidate the nationalist camp and bring experienced former rivals back into the Likud fold ahead of the next elections.

What to Watch

The outcome of Wednesday's meeting will be a critical indicator of Netanyahu's current strength within the party apparatus. If the selection committee system is adopted, it will mark a significant departure from the Likud's democratic traditions, potentially streamlining the party's message but also risking further alienation of the party's rank-and-file and those officials who rely on primary support.