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Netanyahu’s authority reshapes Likud primary as Cohen tops list

8/19/2026

47 3 Full Breakdown

Center

Cohen Leads

On Monday, August 17 2026, the Likud party held a primary in which 140,000 registered members voted to rank candidates for its Knesset slate.
Netanyahu’s newly granted authority to assign eight of the first thirty list positions cut open slots, making the contest especially competitive.
Energy Minister Eli Cohen received the most votes, topping the list.
Turnout reached 53.5%, with 76,068 ballots cast.

Left

Likud Primary

On Monday, August 17 2026, about 140,000 registered Likud members voted in a primary to rank candidates for the party’s Knesset slate.
Only three women placed among the top 30 candidates, prompting criticism of Likud’s gender imbalance.
Netanyahu’s allies swept regional races, led by Shuki Ohana, Shlomo Lerner and Erez Tadmor.
David Bitan secured a realistic list spot despite targeted political deals aimed at removing him.

Blindspot

Blindspot

Only three women placed among the top 30 Likud candidates, prompting criticism of gender imbalance within the party, according to party officials.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

After Netanyahu defended his leadership in the January 1999 Likud vote, he resigned later that year and Ariel Sharon won the September 1999 election, reshaping party control. The January 1999 contest also set the party’s electoral list for the 1999 general election. Netanyahu’s 2007 re-election with 73% of the vote showed the party’s centralization, a legacy echoed in the August 2026 primary.

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Cohen Leads

On Monday, August 17 2026, the Likud party held a primary in which 140,000 registered members voted to rank candidates for its Knesset slate.
Netanyahu’s newly granted authority to assign eight of the first thirty list positions cut open slots, making the contest especially competitive.
Energy Minister Eli Cohen received the most votes, topping the list.
Turnout reached 53.5%, with 76,068 ballots cast.

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