Full Breakdown
Likud Primaries Highlight Internal Tensions Ahead of Israeli Election
8/18/2026, 3:45:25 AM
Core Event: Likud Primaries on August 17, 2026
On August 17, 2026 the Likud Party held its nationwide primaries, allowing roughly 140,000 registered members to vote for candidates who will compose the party’s Knesset slate for the October 27 election. Polling stations opened at 10 a.m. and closed at 9 p.m. Turnout reached about 36 % by the evening, up 1.4 percentage points from 2022. More than 100 candidates competed for slots, while the party’s internal regulations reserved eight positions for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and additional spots for three ministers—Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and Likud Central Committee chair Haim Katz—as well as entrepreneur Oren Dobronsky. Analysts project Likud will win roughly 22 seats, meaning the reserved slots could account for half of the party’s representation.
Background & Context
Likud, the right-wing party that broke the Labor-left monopoly in 1977, has seen its popularity decline since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. An Agam Labs poll published on August 11 found that 54.9 % of Likud voters desire a more centrist government, whereas only about one-third of party members favor a centre-right coalition; two-thirds of members prefer a continuation of the current ultra-Orthodox and nationalist coalition. The same poll showed that more than 80 % of Likud voters want an increase in ultra-Orthodox conscripts, compared with 65 % of members.
Data & Statistics
- Registered members eligible to vote: ~140,000
- Turnout: ~36 % by 6:30 p.m.; 26.44 % at 4:30 p.m. (up 1.4 pp from 2022)
- Candidates seeking slots: >100
- Reserved slots: 8 for Netanyahu + 3 ministers + 1 entrepreneur (total 12)
- Projected Likud seats in Knesset: ~22
- Survey results (Agam Labs, August 11): 54.9 % of voters want a centrist government; ~33 % of members favor centre-right; ~66 % support a coalition similar to the current one; >80 % of voters vs 65 % of members favor more ultra-Orthodox conscripts.
Official Statements & Responses
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi defended the reserved slots, noting they “are nothing new” and help the prime minister coordinate alliances and preserve the bloc. Culture Minister Miki Zohar said the arrangement reflects a mix of elected and pre-assigned positions, a practice within the prime minister’s discretion.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As Prime Minister of Israel, I intend to deepen the unity within us,” — Benjamin Netanyahu
- “These are the people that are going to decide what's going to happen with the election,” — Gayil Talshir, political scientist, Hebrew University
- “I trust you, Likud members, to choose your representatives correctly, according to your own judgment. I am not interfering in the national list, and I wish everyone success,” — Benjamin Netanyahu
Why It Matters / Impact
The primaries determine the composition of the Likud list that will contest the October 27 election, directly affecting Netanyahu’s re-election prospects. The expansion of reserved slots amplifies the prime minister’s influence over the slate, potentially alienating moderate voters who, according to the August 11 survey, favor a centrist coalition. The party’s internal rift between hard-right members and those seeking broader appeal could shape voter turnout and the final distribution of Knesset seats.
What’s Next
The finalized Likud list will be announced later on August 17, after which the party will campaign toward the October 27 general election, the decisive contest that will determine whether Netanyahu can retain the premiership.
