Likud officials clarified this morning that Defense Minister Israel Katz will not receive a reserved slot in the party's first five, as initially considered, and may end up in the top ten or lower, amid internal backlash over the arrangement. The party also stated that district races will not be pushed further back.
Likud officials clarified Tuesday morning that Defense Minister Israel Katz will not receive a reserved slot in the party's top five, as initially considered, and may end up in the top ten or lower, amid internal backlash over the arrangement. The party also stressed that district list positions will not be pushed further back.
The clarification marks a significant shift from earlier developments. At 06:19 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that the Likud secretariat had been asked to approve reserved Knesset slots for Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and party chairman Haim Katz alongside new slots for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. That same report, citing journalist Amit Segal (N12), indicated Katz would be placed in the second quintile (slots 11–20) and Haim Katz at the 18th spot. By 07:10 Jerusalem, Likud sources said the internal anger and additional agreements had forced a revision, leaving Katz's position uncertain and potentially lower than earlier projected.
The internal scramble comes amid sustained tensions over list composition. As The Zioneer reported on June 23, Netanyahu had pushed to reserve top-10 slots for Sa'ar and former Minister Moshe Kahlon. Background reporting shows fierce resistance from senior party figures to the Prime Minister's demand for up to 10 reserved slots, with some preferring an arranging committee over granting such control.
The exact slot Katz will occupy remains unresolved. The party's statement leaves open a range from the top ten to lower, with final decisions pending further internal negotiation.
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