A senior Likud figure is publicly pushing back against reported efforts to cancel the party’s primary elections, warning that such a move would undermine the democratic character of the movement and alienate grassroots activists.

Netivot Mayor Yechiel Zohar told Walla that the primary system is “the beating heart of the Likud,” arguing that it is the only mechanism that ensures fair representation for the party’s various constituencies, including women, residents of the periphery, and regional districts.

“The primary system is not merely a technical tool—it is the beating heart of the Likud movement,” Zohar said. “It is the only mechanism that guarantees proper representation for districts, women, the periphery, and entire sectors of Israeli society that view Likud as their political home.”

Zohar warned that eliminating the primaries would significantly weaken the party’s grassroots base.

“Canceling the primaries will weaken the power of field activists and severely damage their motivation on election day,” he said.

While expressing support for limited reserved slots on the party’s electoral list, Zohar insisted such appointments should complement—not replace—the will of party members.

“Reserved spots can be an appropriate tool for making specific adjustments and balancing the list,” he said. “But they must come in addition to the choice of the membership, not instead of it. Likud’s strength comes from the people’s choice, not from lists created behind closed doors.”

The comments come amid reports that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his advisers are considering replacing party primaries with a selection committee to determine the Likud slate for the next election.

According to Walla, the proposal has sparked opposition among several senior Likud members.

“Likud is not the party of one man,” one senior party official from southern Israel was quoted as saying. “We want primaries. This party existed before the prime minister and will exist after him.”

The official also noted that Netanyahu himself introduced the primary system to Likud and has long pointed to it as evidence that Likud is Israel’s largest democratic political party.

He added that previous candidates placed on the list through reserved appointments had largely failed to succeed politically, warning that abolishing the primary system could fundamentally change the character of the party.

“If the primaries are canceled, it will be the end of the party,” he said. “It will turn us into another Labor Party.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)