Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Energy Minister Eli Cohen emerged as the top vote-recipients in an informal “mini-primary” held during the Likud party’s weekend “Likudiada” gathering in Eilat, offering an early glimpse into activist sentiment ahead of anticipated primaries in the coming months, as national elections are currently scheduled for October.

The event drew criticism for taking place while fighting with Hezbollah terrorists continues, including ongoing rocket and drone attacks on northern Israeli communities. Despite that backdrop, most cabinet members attended the weekend conference in the southern resort city.

Rounding out the top 10 in the informal vote were Transportation Minister Miri Regev, Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, Knesset Economics Committee chairman David Bitan, MK Sasson Guetta, Coalition Whip Ofir Katz, and MK Tally Gotliv.

Economy Minister Nir Barkat, who has previously pointed to internal polling showing him as a potential successor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, placed 15th. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi ranked 17th, while Education Minister Yoav Kisch finished in 20th place.

The results reflect the views of approximately 2,000 party activists who attended the conference, rather than the broader Likud membership of about 120,000. While the outcome offers insight into grassroots preferences, it is not considered a reliable predictor of primary results. In a previous conference in 2022, both Regev and Gamliel ranked highly in similar polling but ultimately secured lower positions on the party’s final list.

Even so, such rankings are closely followed within Likud circles as an early signal of internal support ahead of primaries that have yet to be officially scheduled.