Netanyahu Shortens Candidacy Period for Almog Cohen and Ze'ev Elkin; Hadar Mochtar Left Out

Prime Minister and Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu approved today a shortening of the candidacy period for four candidates ahead of the primaries: Almog Cohen, Ze'ev Elkin, Shai Kelch, and Dror Kafah. The request of online activist Hadar Mochtar was not approved, and she will not be able to run. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is advancing a series of slots, including Israel Katz, Haim Katz, Gideon Sa'ar, and Oren Dobronsky.

Prime Minister and Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu approved today (Tuesday) a shortening of the candidacy period for four candidates ahead of the upcoming party primaries: Deputy Minister Almog Cohen, Minister Ze'ev Elkin, Shai Kelch, and Dror Kafah. In contrast, the request of online activist Hadar Mochtar to shorten the period was not approved, and she will not be able to run in the primaries. Shortening the candidacy period is a special permit that allows a party member to run in the primaries even if they have not yet completed the minimum membership period required by the Likud constitution. The party secretariat held a vote today on a series of leniencies and changes ahead of the formation of the Knesset list. Cohen, who joined Likud after serving on behalf of Otzma Yehudit, also examined in recent days the possibility of receiving a slot on the list. Meanwhile, he conducted contacts with activists and power groups ahead of a possible run in the primaries. After the shortening of the candidacy period, the way was opened for him to run, but at the top of Likud there is still a dilemma whether to allow him to run in the primaries or grant him a slot. According to assessments in the party, Cohen's popularity may bring him to a high place in the primaries and push a sitting Knesset member from a realistic spot. On the other hand, his slot on the list would further reduce the number of places to be decided by party members, while about 40 sitting ministers and Knesset members are competing for about 15 realistic places. Mochtar, who also asked Netanyahu to shorten her candidacy period, remained out of the race. In recent days she called on the prime minister to allow her to run and claimed that she could "bring Prime Minister Netanyahu two mandates of young folks." Even before the decision, a petition was filed in Likud demanding the removal of her name from the list of candidates on the movement's website, claiming that the deadline for approving the shortening of the candidacy period had passed and her continued appearance on the list creates a false impression. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is advancing a series of slots on the Likud list. Among the names being considered are Defense Minister Israel Katz, Haim Katz, Gideon Sa'ar, and Oren Dobronsky. Netanyahu received authority at the Likud conference to slot eight candidates up to the 29th place on the list, after the proposal was approved by a majority of 2,148 supporters versus 1,220 opponents. In the request to allow the slot for Israel Katz, it was argued that this is necessary "in light of the fact that the Defense Minister is entirely occupied with security matters, and in light of an exceptional security situation that cannot be elaborated at this stage." The court was also asked "to allow the Prime Minister to place Defense Minister Israel Katz on the Likud list in a place the Prime Minister sees fit, without the need to run in the primaries." Gideon Sa'ar is supposed to be integrated into the slot quota in accordance with the political agreement under which he returned to Likud, and the placement of Michel Buskila also stems from the agreement with him. Sources in Likud claimed that one of the considerations behind some of the slots is the desire to influence the structure of the top ten and prevent MK Tali Gottlieb from entering it. Likud is now preparing for a continued crowded battle over the realistic places on the list, some of which will be determined in advance through the slots.