Netanyahu comes out on top in Likud primaries, but voters want more – analysis

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerged as the primary victor in the recent Likud primaries, with his favored candidates, such as Amir Ohana and Amichai Chikli, performing well, while those who clashed with him, like David Bitan, faltered. The results highlighted several key trends within the party. Loyalty to Netanyahu was significantly rewarded, as exemplified by Eli Cohen and Ohana, who consistently supported the Prime Minister without positioning themselves as immediate challengers. Voters also demonstrated a preference for candidates with broader electoral appeal over polarizing figures, demoting individuals like Tali Gotliv and May Golan, indicating a desire for pragmatic leadership capable of winning general elections. Furthermore, the primaries showed that the Likud base, while remaining committed to a right-wing agenda, favors disciplined and experienced politicians who can translate ideology into policy, rather than those who engage in "chaos populism." The results also underscored the price paid by those who display too much independence from Netanyahu, as strong independent bases of support can be perceived as threats to his leadership, a dynamic previously experienced by figures like Gideon Sa'ar and Yoav Gallant.