Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is expected to personally attend a crucial meeting of Likud’s Constitution Committee on Sunday in an effort to win support for his proposed overhaul of the party’s Knesset candidate list. But senior party officials believe he is likely to face a majority opposed to his plan.

According to reports, the meeting is shaping up to be one of the most contentious internal Likud battles ahead of Israel’s 26th Knesset elections. Netanyahu decided to attend after realizing that negotiations over the structure of the party’s electoral slate had reached an impasse.

At the heart of the dispute is Netanyahu’s demand to reserve 10 personally selected slots within the first 30 places on the Likud list while pushing district representatives down to positions after No. 40. Opposing the proposal are senior Likud figures Chaim Katz and David Bitan, who insist Netanyahu receive no more than six reserved slots and want district representatives to remain guaranteed places within the top 30.

The internal battle has also spilled into a public campaign aimed at party activists. Messages circulated among Likud members declared: “Netanyahu is saving Likud! Yes to Netanyahu’s reserved slots, no to the corrupt membership drive.” Another message urged supporters: “Don’t let Bitan and Chaim Katz confuse you. We all know there is a hostile takeover attempt against Likud.”

Netanyahu has reportedly warned that if no compromise is reached, he will personally appear before the committee to try to persuade members to back his proposal. Even so, senior figures within the party remain skeptical that his direct involvement will change the outcome. One Likud official said, “It won’t help Netanyahu,” adding, “In any case, there will be a majority against him. It’s better for him to reach agreements.”

In an effort to reduce opposition, Netanyahu has reportedly offered to eliminate separate reserved positions for women and young candidates, instead including those groups within the reserved slots he is seeking for himself.

The party has yet to decide when its primary elections will be held, with August 4 and August 11 currently under consideration.

At the same time, Netanyahu is continuing to shape his preferred candidate list for the next election. Among his key objectives is broadening Likud’s appeal to younger voters and Israel’s Ethiopian community. Potential candidates reportedly being considered include Yoseph Haddad, Netta-Li Shem Tov, and several young IDF combat veterans who distinguished themselves during the recent wars.

Sources close to the prime minister say his hands-on involvement reflects his desire to assemble a balanced slate that preserves Likud’s traditional base while also attracting moderate right-wing voters. Before he can focus on expanding the party’s support at the ballot box, however, Netanyahu must first convince members of his own party to back his plan.