Six of top 20: Likud okays plan to give Netanyahu more power over party’s electoral slate

Likud's Constitution Committee approved a plan to grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu increased power in selecting candidates for the party's electoral slate. The compromise allows Netanyahu to choose eight candidates, including three in the top 10 and six in the top 20, a significant increase from the three candidates he could select in the top 30 during the 2022 primaries. The deal, which reserves specific spots (3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 18, 26, and 31) for his handpicked candidates, will be voted on by the Likud Central Committee on Thursday. Veteran lawmaker David Bitan publicly opposed the move, stating, "We haven't seen who they want to reserve a spot for and what value they bring to Likud." The party primaries were postponed to August 17, and general elections are set for October 27.