Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the first reserved slot on the Likud party list for the upcoming Knesset elections, naming businessman Oren Dobronsky to lead the party's artificial intelligence portfolio. The slot was placed at 11th on the list and described by the party as bringing 'Silicon Valley to the Knesset.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening formally designated businessman Oren Dobronsky as the first reserved slot on the Likud party list, placing him at the 11th position and tasking him with leading the party's artificial intelligence portfolio after the elections. The announcement, described by the party as bringing "Silicon Valley to the Knesset," marks the culmination of a rapid sequence of reports and confirmations that unfolded over the past hour.
The first report emerged at 19:15 Jerusalem, when the Likud party announced that Dobronsky had joined as its first reserved-slot candidate. Minutes later, Yediot reported that Netanyahu had secured the slot, followed by a report from Channel 12's Amit Segal specifying the 11th position and characterizing the slot as "Netanyahu's armor." The party subsequently released a campaign video in which Dobronsky stated he is "getting under the stretcher." Netanyahu then issued the official confirmation, naming Dobronsky to the AI portfolio. Each step added layers of detail: the slot number, the portfolio assignment, and the framing within the party's campaign narrative.
The announcement follows months of internal Likud negotiations over reserved slots. As The Zioneer reported on June 22, Netanyahu had demanded between 8 and 10 reserved slots, a move that triggered resistance from senior party figures arguing it would dilute the democratic primary process. Monday's placement of Dobronsky is the first implementation of that demand, with additional reserved slots expected in the coming days.
The full number of reserved slots Netanyahu will ultimately secure, as well as the exact date for the Likud primaries, remains subject to ongoing negotiations within the party.
10 developments
- StrongNetanyahu slots Oren Dobronsky into Likud's second ten
- StrongLiberman associates say unaware of Dobronsky's Likud slot; report reveals father's Yisrael Beiteinu role
- DevelopingUnconfirmed: Netanyahu reportedly secures first slot on Likud list
- StrongLikud and MK Yaron Levy decline comment on reported talks over reserved Knesset slot
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