{
  "id": 1601840,
  "title": "Likud primaries | With 25% of votes counted: Eli Cohen, Yariv Levin, and Amir Ohana lead",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/likud-primaries-with-25-of-votes-counted-eli-cohen-yariv-levin-and",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T00:45:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
    "slug": "arutz-sheva-israel-national-news",
    "url": "https://www.israelnationalnews.com/flashes/691932"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Eli Cohen, Yariv Levin, and Amir Ohana are leading in the Likud primaries with approximately 25% of the votes counted. They are followed by several other candidates, including Miri Regev, Miki Zohar, and Yoav Kisch, according to Arutz Sheva - Israel National News.\n\nThe primaries have also seen Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat taking measures to ensure the integrity of the voting process. He hired a team of undercover private investigators to monitor polling stations and the counting center, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. The team is equipped with recording devices to collect evidence in case of any irregularities.\n\nBarkat's move comes amid concerns about possible fraud and allegations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's associates may be working against him. According to sources, Barkat's team plans to correct any wrongdoing, report it to the authorities, and take those responsible to justice if any irregularities are found.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Economy Minister Barkat hires private investigators to ensure there is no fraud at Likud primaries",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/economy-minister-barkat-hires-private-investigators-to-ensure-there",
        "published": "2026-08-17T19:52:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Likud primaries: May Golan and Amit Halevi demand freeze on Yeruham vote count",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/likud-primaries-may-golan-and-amit-halevi-demand-freeze-on-yeruham",
        "published": "2026-08-17T21:46:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}