Netanyahu pressures Likud rival Katz as party scrambles to finalize candidate list

Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified efforts to shape his Likud party’s election slate, visiting the home of fellow minister Gideon Katz this morning in what appears to be a direct push for influence over candidate placement. The visit comes just a week after the party set a date for its primary elections, suggesting Netanyahu is keen to secure advantageous positions for his allies before the formal process begins.Sources close to the negotiations indicate that Netanyahu and Katz are edging towards an agreement over the number of so-called “safe seats” — guaranteed positions near the top of the candidate list that virtually guarantee election to the Knesset. Netanyahu is reportedly seeking ten such secure spots among the first 30 positions on the ballot, a significant allocation that would ensure his preferred candidates secure parliamentary representation regardless of broader electoral performance.The manoeuvring reflects ongoing tensions within the Likud party over power distribution and succession planning. Safe seats are prized commodities in Israeli politics, as they determine which candidates will almost certainly enter parliament. Netanyahu’s push for such a large bloc suggests he remains concerned about consolidating his faction within the party ahead of primary voting.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.