The Likud Party closed its polling stations for its internal primaries on Monday evening after approximately 140,000 registered members were eligible to vote for candidates seeking spots on the party’s Knesset slate ahead of the October 27 elections.
The primaries came amid fierce internal tensions over changes that have expanded chairman Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s control over the party’s Knesset slate, which have made the primaries more competitive than in past years.
The voter turnout reached 53.5%, with 76,068 party members voting in the primaries, up about ten percentage points from the primaries held four years ago, taking into account the difference in voting hours, the Likud stated.
The results are expected to be announced late on Monday night.
Candidates who receive realistic slots on the list could hold significant roles in the government if Netanyahu is to be elected as prime minister in the October 27 election.
The polling began at 10 a.m. and continued until 9 p.m. at stations throughout the country.
The over 100 candidates seeking to secure a slot on the party's list continued to campaign throughout the morning. Many posted pictures of themselves with Netanyahu, such as Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, who is expected to receive a high slot on the list.
Regional Cooperation Minister David Amsalem posted a photo of himself voting, calling on registered members to join.
"I believe in Likud members, in their wisdom, their hearts, and in our path. We did our part with great love. Now I call on everyone who has not yet voted: Get out of the house, go to the polls, and make your voice heard," he stated.
Likud ministers and members of Knesset running in the primaries also continued throughout the day to photograph themselves casting their ballots at the various voting stations throughout the country.
Regional Cooperation Minister David Amsalem posted a photo of himself voting, calling on registered members to join.
"I believe in Likud members, in their wisdom, their hearts, and in our path. We did our part with great love. Now I call on everyone who has not yet voted: Get out of the house, go to the polls, and make your voice heard," he stated.
Parties not required to hold primaries, Likud holds votes
Netanyahu showed up at the Jerusalem polling station at the International Convention Center (ICC) to vote in the afternoon.
He stated on Sunday ahead of the primaries that he would join the voting and cast his ballot “for a winning slate.”
“I trust you, Likud members, to choose your representatives correctly, according to your own judgment. I am not interfering in the national list, and I wish everyone success,” Netanyahu added.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Avi Dichter told The Jerusalem Post, while at the ICC in Jerusalem to cast his vote, that this year’s primaries had generated a different level of enthusiasm, with turnout among members appearing “higher and stronger,” and voters arriving with “a wide smile on their face.”
Giving backing to the premier amid the tensions over the reserved slots, Dicter added that "we need to build a good team beside and behind Prime Minister Netanyahu."
It was later reported by Israeli media that haredi (ultra-Orthodox) activists had registered to the party ahead of the primaries to vote in favor of preferred candidates, despite not having a previous connection to the party.
Likud has for years prided itself on conducting primaries in which its registered members are eligible to vote for the Knesset list. Parties are not required to hold primaries in Israel, and only a few do so.
Netanyahu pushed to change the system in recent weeks ahead of the primaries, leading to an especially competitive race with even fewer slots available than usual.
Netanyahu was granted the authority to determine eight slots within the first 30 spots on the party list last month following a vote on the controversial decision by the Likud Central Committee.
There were reports that Netanyahu had threatened to leave Likud if the proposed changes were not advanced.
Those within the party who oppose changing the primaries have argued that it will cause those who would otherwise score highly in the primaries to fall further down the list.
The Likud primaries are further competitive because the party currently has around 40 ministers and MKs serving in the government and Knesset, but recent polls project the party winning only about 22 seats, leaving many at risk of losing their places on the party’s Knesset list.
Further tensions surrounding the slots also come after the Tel Aviv District Court last week rejected Likud MK Afif Abed’s attempt to restore a narrowly approved change allowing current and former MKs, ministers and deputy ministers to run in the party’s district primaries, leaving the restrictions in place ahead of the vote.
Likud had announced last week that one of Netanyahu’s first reserved slots would go to entrepreneur and businessman Oren Dobronsky.
Additional reserved slots were later granted by Netanyahu to three ministers: Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and Likud Central Committee Chairman Haim Katz, who also holds multiple ministerial portfolios.
The party said its internal court ruled that the defense minister should receive a reserved slot in order to “allow him to focus on security needs rather than engage in politics at this time.”
Sa'ar to receive reserved slot as part of party merger
Likud also stated that Sa’ar would receive a reserved slot as part of the merger agreement between his party and Likud and that the Likud Central Committee chairperson would receive a slot due to his senior position in the party.
Sa’ar had announced in 2025 that his New Hope-United Right would be merging with Likud, and would be returning to the party. He previously resigned from Likud in 2020, heavily criticizing Netanyahu at the time.
The changes to the party’s primaries that have expanded Netanyahu’s control over the Knesset list have led to fierce internal tensions, with some party members in favor and others strongly against.
A fierce critic of changing the system has been MK Tally Gotliv, who is viewed as a candidate who would receive broad support from registered party members.
She claimed during the voting that there were polling stations with fake ballots that did not include her name.
"Stay alert. Likud activists and vote contractors are in a panic over the power of independent votes," she stated.
"Update me directly. A polling station with a fake ballot will be disqualified," she added.
Gotliv has sharply criticized the Tuesday decision to reserve the slots for the three ministers, condemning the defense minister.
She called the decision to grant the defense minister a reserved slot “a disgraceful move that mocks Likud voters."
Likud MK Amit Halevi, who has expressed support for allowing the premier to reserve slots, told the Post on Sunday that the primaries “will be a democratic celebration in the Likud.”
“I wish more parties conducted themselves democratically like the Likud. Some 140,000 members, active, engaged citizens who make their voices heard and have an influence, will go to the polls tomorrow,” he added.
The primaries determine the Likud’s Knesset slate, with the party chairman placed first. Registered members then vote for candidates on the national list, while members from geographic districts vote for candidates from their respective districts.
Candidates chosen on the national list are combined with district representatives and places that guarantee representation for groups including women, immigrants, young members, and minorities. The regulations also reserve certain positions for candidates chosen by the party chairman.
The precise locations of those different categories are determined before each election through the party’s temporary election regulations. That is why the current fight has centered not only on whether primaries will take place, but on how much of the resulting slate the members will actually control.
Other party leaders from Netanyahu's coalition expressed support for the primaries.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who leads the far-Right Otzma Yehudit Party, voiced his support for various Likud candidates, including Gotliv and Women's Advancement Minister May Golan.
The Religious Zionist Party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also expressed support.
"Good luck to all the candidates, and, God willing, success to all of us together in the upcoming elections," the party stated.
"The national camp must continue to lead Israel toward continued growth and prosperity," it added.
Democrats Party leader Yair Golan, from the oppostion bloc seeking to replace Netanyahu in the upcoming elections. sharply criticized the primaries.
"Never have so many people vied for a place on the deck of the Titanic," he stated.
Sam Halpern and Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.