Netanyahu ‘very pleased’ as Eli Cohen, Amir Ohana, Yariv Levin top Likud Party primary

Israel’s Likud Party on Tuesday published the final vote counts for its primary, with Prime Minister and Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu saying he was “very pleased” with the results and congratulating the winners, according to a Likud statement.

Current Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen leads the list, followed by Amir Ohana, Yariv Levin, Miri Regev and Ofir Katz rounding out the top five spots. The rankings do not include Netanyahu, who is automatically placed at the top of the slate, or his multiple reserved slots.

Likud said 76,068 party members voted, a turnout of 53%. Cohen received more than 46,000 votes.

“The new Likud list reflects renewal and the integration of new forces at the top of the list. Together with the secured slots that Prime Minister Netanyahu will appoint, which will strengthen the list even further, the Likud slate led by Netanyahu will lead to a great victory and the establishment of a broad national government immediately after the elections,” according to the statement.

“This is the only way to prevent a left-wing government of [Yashar Party leader Gadi] Eisenkot, [The Democrats Party head] Yair Golan, [Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor] Liberman and the Arab parties,” the statement said.

Israel’s general election for the 26th Knesset is scheduled for Oct. 27, 2026.

Netanyahu said on Sunday night that he would vote in the primary for a Knesset slate that would prevent opposition leaders from forming a governing coalition dependent on Arab parties.

“I will vote tomorrow in the Likud primary for a winning list that will ensure that Eisenkot and Yair Golan do not form a narrow government with the Arab parties, as they promised,” the prime minister wrote in Hebrew.

The primary follows a Likud Central Committee decision last month granting Netanyahu the authority to fill eight of the first 30 slots on the party’s Knesset candidates list, positions 3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 18, 26 and 29.

Last week, Netanyahu announced the first (non-incumbent) reserved position would go to Oren Dobronsky, a high-tech entrepreneur well-known in Israel and Silicon Valley.

The party subsequently reserved spots for three more candidates, including Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.

Primary results (excluding reserved slots)

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. Dudi Amsalem
11. Moshe Saada
12. Tally Gotliv
13. Shlomo Karhi
14. Boaz Bismuth
15. David Bitan
16. Nir Barkat
17. Ze’ev Elkin
18. Gila Gamliel
19. Amit Halevi
20. Eti Hava Atia
21. Avichai Buaron
22. Hanoch Milwidsky
23. May Golan
24. Keti Shitrit
25. Idit Silman
26. Ariel Kallner
27. Avi Dichter
28. Shashi Guetta
29. Shalom Danino
30. Shay Kalach
31. Uzi Dayan
32. Keren Bublil Atias
33. Nissim Vaturi
34. Dror Kapach
35. Osnat Zohar
36. Netanel Ohayon
37. Mola Mola
38. Gavra Worku
39. Idan Mazuz
40. Samir Zeidan