Deputy Minister Almog Cohen has announced he will run in the Likud primary elections. The report adds that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved shortening the required cooling-off period for Cohen days ago and recorded a support video together with him, according to Israeli media.
Deputy Minister Almog Cohen (Otzma Yehudit) formally announced his candidacy for the Likud primary elections Wednesday morning, marking a significant step toward joining the party's Knesset list. According to a report from the Yediot Aharonot the source, Cohen's announcement comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a shortened cooling-off period for him and filmed a campaign support video together with him.
The Zioneer reported earlier this morning (09:30) that Cohen had declared his primary bid, citing Amit Segal (N12). The additional detail about Netanyahu's direct involvement—the waiting-period waiver and the joint video—reinforces Cohen's standing as a Netanyahu-backed candidate within Likud.
Cohen, currently serving as a Deputy Minister in Otzma Yehudit, has been the subject of political speculation for weeks. The Zioneer has previously covered Netanyahu's decision to shorten the cooling-off period for Cohen and Ze'ev Elkin, allowing them to run in the primaries. Senior Likud officials have predicted Cohen would become a Likud MK in the next Knesset. The move is seen as part of Likud's internal preparations for the next elections.
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