By 5 Towns Central Staff

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (August 18, 2026)

Energy Minister Eli Cohen has emerged as the big winner of Likud’s primary, finishing first in the party’s nationwide vote and securing the No. 2 position on the Likud list behind Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana finished second, followed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Transportation Minister Miri Regev and coalition whip Ofir Katz. The results set the stage for a significantly reshaped Likud slate ahead of Israel’s October 27 election.

Turnout reached 53.5%, with 75,177 of Likud’s roughly 140,000 members casting ballots across 501 polling stations. Netanyahu reportedly welcomed the outcome, saying he was “very satisfied” with the results and predicting a major Likud victory in the general election.

The primary was particularly consequential because Likud has been polling in the low 20s, meaning many candidates who finished outside the top tier could struggle to win Knesset seats. Several sitting ministers and MKs, including Ze’ev Elkin, May Golan, Idit Silman and Avi Dichter, are now facing a serious fight to remain in parliament.

Netanyahu still holds significant influence

The primary results do not tell the entire story. Likud recently expanded Netanyahu’s ability to reserve positions on the party list for candidates of his choosing, allowing him to reshape portions of the slate even after the primary.

That means several candidates who performed strongly in the vote could ultimately be pushed down by Netanyahu’s selections. Economics Minister Nir Barkat, who finished 16th, is reportedly among those whose position could be affected.

Gila Gamliel, meanwhile, is expected to receive the 25th position under Likud’s rules requiring women to occupy designated places within the top 40.

Primary results

1. Eli Cohen
2. Amir Ohana
3. Yariv Levin
4. Miri Regev
5. Ofir Katz
6. Yoav Kisch
7. Miki Zohar
8. Almog Cohen
9. Amichai Chikli
10. David Amsalem
11. Moshe Saada
12. Tally Gotliv
13. Shlomo Karhi
14. David Bitan
15. Boaz Bismuth
16. Nir Barkat
17. Ze’ev Elkin
18. Gila Gamliel

The outcome reflects a significant shake-up within Likud, with several long-serving figures pushed down the rankings while newer and more combative members of the party gained ground.

Near-final Likud slate

1. Benjamin Netanyahu
2. Eli Cohen
3. Reserved for Netanyahu
4. Israel Katz
5. Gideon Sa’ar
6. Amir Ohana
7. Yariv Levin
8. Miri Regev
9. Reserved for Netanyahu
10. Ofir Katz
11. Oren Dobronsky
12. Yoav Kisch
13. Miki Zohar
14. Almog Cohen
15. Reserved for Netanyahu
16. Amichai Chikli
17. David Amsalem
18. Haim Katz
19. Moshe Saada
20. Tally Gotliv
21. Shlomo Karhi
22. David Bitan
23. Boaz Bismuth
24. Nir Barkat
25. Gila Gamliel

With the October election approaching, the primary has given Netanyahu a party list featuring several familiar senior figures while also creating uncertainty for a number of current lawmakers whose political futures are now at risk.