Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is holding a series of last-minute meetings as Israel’s political parties race to finalize their lists for the 2026 Knesset elections, with several major moves taking shape across the right-wing bloc.
Party registration officially opened Monday and will remain open until Tuesday at 10:00 p.m., putting Israel’s political system into its final stretch before the lists are submitted.
Netanyahu, who also serves as Likud chairman, has delayed a meeting of the Likud Secretariat in order to preserve flexibility as he decides which candidates will receive reserved spots on the party’s list. Preparations are already underway behind the scenes, with campaign videos involving some potential candidates already filmed.
Attorney David Peter is expected to receive a reserved spot on the Likud list. Netanyahu has also filmed a video with Dr. Keren Assayag, although he is reportedly considering giving her another position within the party instead of placing her directly on the Knesset slate. Yifat Ben Hai Segev is also among the names being considered.
If the talks are completed in the coming hours, Netanyahu is considering making an announcement as early as Monday evening revealing his selections.
Meanwhile, MK Tally Gotliv met with Netanyahu after he summoned her for a meeting aimed at bringing her departure from Likud to a smooth conclusion. Gotliv is expected to leave Likud and join National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party.
Separately, Ben Gvir informed Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu that he will receive the fourth spot on the Otzma Yehudit list. MK May Golan, however, is not expected to receive a reserved spot on Ben Gvir’s slate.
Religious Zionism chairman Bezalel Smotrich is also weighing additions to his party after previously holding back reserved spots in hopes of reaching an agreement with Ofer Winter. With Winter now appearing set to run independently, Smotrich is expected to again consider using his chairman’s reserved slots to strengthen the Religious Zionism list.
The developments come as parties face a rapidly closing deadline to complete their candidate lists ahead of the election.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
