Netanyahu’s Grip on Likud Tightens Ahead of Primary

Israel’s ruling party, Likud, held its primary election on Monday, with 140,000 members voting to shape the party’s list for the October general election. But the vote comes with a twist: party leader Benjamin Netanyahu has already reserved the right to handpick several candidates himself. Likud has governed Israel for nearly all of the past year, and has been in power since 2009. Netanyahu’s move allows him to bypass the membership vote for a select number of seats, cementing his control over the party’s internal lineup. The primary is a key step before national elections, but Netanyahu’s pre-selection power raises questions about how much influence ordinary members truly hold. For now, the decision stands, and the party moves forward with a list shaped—at least in part—by its leader’s hand.