MK Yariv Levin tops party list that includes 39 candidates for parliament
Israel’s Likud party on Thursday released its final list of candidates for November’s Knesset (Israel’s parliament) elections following the previous day’s primary vote.
MK Yariv Levin, a loyalist to Likud leader and former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tops the party slate that includes 39 candidates.
Less than 80,000 eligible members of the right-wing party cast their votes for the Jewish state’s largest party.
Some 58 percent of Likud members submitted ballots, identical to the previous primary in 2019.
Roughly 25 seats are reserved for national candidates out of the 35 seats Likud is averaging in the polls, the rest reserved for regional representatives, “special” slots – such as a woman elected for the first time and an immigrant – and Netanyahu’s personal choices.
Amir Ohana – another faithful Netanyahu supporter along with Levin – placed fifth in the final tally. Other staunch Netanyahu supporters Miki Zohar (10) and Miri Regev (8) are also expected to make it into parliament.
Following Levin at the second spot is Eli Cohen, then Yoav Gallant (3) and David (Dudi) Amsalem (4). Yoav Kisch placed sixth.
Also earning spots on the roster are Nir Barkat (7), Avi Dichter (9) and Israel Katz (11) – the recipient of the Netanyahu loyalty necklace.
Yuli Edelstein, the former second-in-command of the party, placed 16th on the party’s slate.
Edelstein said last year that he planned to eventually challenge Netanyahu for leadership of Likud, calling Netanyahu’s government “simply dangerous for Israel.