As Netanyahu weighs reserved slots, officials consider how party list will change prior to election

As Likud primary campaigning concludes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu focuses on his eight reserved slots within the party list. These slots allow him to shape the composition of the list after members vote. Moshe Kahlon, a former finance minister, is a primary candidate for one of these slots. Likud officials conveyed to Kahlon that he could secure a high spot in the list, but he has not yet decided whether to participate in politics.

Another candidate, Tsega Melaku, withdrew from the primary race and has received support from the Ethiopian-Israeli community. They believe her presence could garner support equivalent to half a Knesset seat. Likud officials anticipate that the outcome of the primary will have significant consequences for selected MKs. Those who finish in the lower positions (25th or 28th) may be pushed out of the Knesset if Netanyahu places higher candidates ahead of them.

The Likud Secretariat must vote on the reserved slots, with 48 hours' notice, and senior party officials believe MKs in borderline positions will be personally invested in the outcome. The Democrats' chairman, Yair Golan, has decided to forgo reserved slots, which may be cited by opponents of the practice in Likud. Netanyahu may ultimately appoint only one or two additional reserved slots, but only if he finds candidates with clear public and electoral appeal.