Prime Minister Netanyahu and Likud Central Committee chairman Haim Katz are close to an agreement on reserved slots ahead of the party's August 4 primaries, according to a first report by i24NEWS. Behind the scenes, assessments suggest Netanyahu will secure eight reserved positions. Separately, Netanyahu clarified to Itamar Ben Gvir that the formation of a broad government will not come at the expense of existing coalition partners.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud Central Committee chairman Haim Katz are nearing an agreement on the number of reserved slots Netanyahu will receive on the party list ahead of the August 4 primaries, i24NEWS reported Sunday evening. The latest developments suggest Netanyahu is likely to secure eight reserved positions — a reduction from his earlier demand for 10-11 slots, which had sparked fierce infighting within the party.
Earlier on Sunday, the Likud Constitution Committee was set to formally postpone primaries to early August after a meeting between Netanyahu and Katz failed to reach agreement on the election method, with Netanyahu demanding 11 reserved slots until the 40th place on the list, and Katz pushing back. Sunday's report of an emerging compromise follows a period of intense internal tensions: on June 22, Netanyahu threatened to quit the party unless granted 10 reserved Knesset slots; the following day, infighting intensified as some senior party figures argued it would be better to cancel primaries entirely and form an arranging committee rather than grant such extensive reserved positions.
As The Zioneer reported, on June 24 Transportation Minister Miri Regev sought to calm tensions, stating that Netanyahu's demands would be heard and that primaries would be held. Against this backdrop, i24NEWS now reports progress toward a compromise, with the primaries remaining scheduled for August 4.
The report also notes that Netanyahu clarified to Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir that the formation of a broad unity government will not come at the expense of existing coalition partners — a statement aimed at reassuring right-wing allies amid speculation about a potential emergency government with the opposition. The exact ranking of the reserved slots on the list has not yet been finalized, according to the report, and further details of the agreement remain under negotiation.
3 developments
- DevelopingNetanyahu offers Likud MKs specific reserved list slots amid infighting
- StrongLikud infighting intensifies over Netanyahu's demand for 10 reserved slots
- DevelopingNetanyahu threatens to quit Likud unless granted 10 reserved Knesset slots
- StrongLikud primaries reportedly set to be canceled; Netanyahu to determine list
Source and signal
- Internal intake