primaries

Angie Nixon upset Alex Vindman in the Democratic Senate race, while Jared Moskowitz, Randy Fine and other prominent pro-Israel candidates defeated challengers

The Likud primary vote count ended with Eli Cohen in first place, while Boaz Bismuth narrowly beat David Bitan. Once reserved slots were factored in, several veteran ministers and Knesset members were pushed down the list. Likud said its slate reflects renewal and new leadership.

A Tel Aviv District Court rejected Likud MK Afif Amin Abed’s petition against the party’s high court. The result: current and former Knesset members and ministers will not be allowed to run in district-reserved slots.

Likud’s internal court ruled that sitting Knesset members, ministers, and deputy ministers cannot compete for district slots in the party primaries, defying Netanyahu’s position. The decision sharply narrows their options in the fight for realistic places on the slate.

Amid the postponement of internal Likud elections because of internal disputes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with local authority heads. Netanyahu said he opposes an organizing committee—but added: “If a national or security emergency requires it, an organizing committee will be established.”