Likud Primary Winners and Losers React

Eli Cohen, the minister who finished first in the primary with more than 46,000 votes, thanked the tens of thousands of party members who participated. "Enormous thanks to each and every one of the 76,000 Likud members who came out to vote today. Thank you so much for the support, it warms the heart," he wrote.

Cohen added: "Now comes the truly important mission—to work hard to succeed in the elections and establish a strong national government under the leadership of the Likud party and Prime Minister Netanyahu."

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, who placed second, said: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Likud movement members for an overwhelming and deeply moving expression of confidence." He continued: "My life's mission is to amplify your voice and work to implement our policy: government of the people, by the people, and for the people."

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who finished third, interpreted his result as endorsement of his judicial reform agenda. "I thank each and every Likud movement member who placed their trust in me. This is an expression of confidence not only in me personally, but first and foremost in the path I am leading. A vast public demands completion of the judicial reform," he wrote.

Education Minister Yoav Kisch made clear his ambitions should Likud form the next government. "In the next term, after we win, I intend to ask Prime Minister Netanyahu to continue in my role as Education Minister, in order to continue and complete the major initiatives I have led for the future of Israel's children," he wrote.

Minister Micky Zohar, who recorded a significant surge and secured seventh place, wrote: "With G-d's help I was elected to seventh place on the Likud list in the primary. This is an enormous achievement and a great privilege for me." Zohar thanked party members: "Enormous thanks from the heart to my colleagues in the Likud movement for the amazing support, it moves me greatly."

Knesset member Moshe Saada, who reached eleventh place, thanked the 27,588 Likud members who voted for him. "This significant achievement, 11th place, in my first primary contest, belongs first of all to you and to the volunteers who worked for me with dedication," he wrote. "I will continue to fight for you, with professionalism and determination."

Knesset member Boaz Bismuth, who edged out David Bitan in the final ballot by a mere 16 votes, celebrated his substantial improvement over previous primaries. "Thanks to you we made a significant leap forward," he wrote. "I appreciate this enormous trust and commit to continue serving you with pride and dedication."

Knesset member Taly Gotliv, who finished twelfth on the list, claimed that figures in the prime minister's circle worked to weaken her. "Even if the PM's circle really tried to thwart and weaken me, even if all the votes organized in deals received instructions not to mark me, Likud's right-wing voters fought for me with tremendous force," she wrote.

Later, in an interview with Channel 14, she set her sights on a specific position, declaring: "Netanyahu will make a serious mistake if he doesn't appoint me as Justice Minister."

Minister Shlomo Karhi claimed various parties tried to damage him during the campaign: "Briefings and slander from right and left by interested parties who didn't like the opening of the communications market to competition gave a light blow to the wing but didn't move Likud voters."

On the losing side, Knesset member Hanoch Milwidsky accepted the result, writing: "Democracy is democracy, even when the results don't go your way. I want to wish great success to the slate chosen by Likud members. Major missions and challenges lie ahead."

Opposition party leaders launched sharp attacks on the newly formed slate. Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yesh Atid party, harshly criticized what he called "the October 7th list."

"No festive announcement or 'victory' parties will hide the fact that the Likud list for the 26th Knesset is effectively the October 7th list," he said. Eisenkot claimed these were the same people who "blindly led Israel to the most severe disaster since the state's founding."

He continued: "They don't know how to lead Israel to victory, they cannot unite Israel, and above all, they are not worthy of continuing to lead the state." He concluded with an appeal to Likud voters: "To Likudniks who are fed up with leadership of lies and corruption, I want to say: you have a home."

Democrats chairman Yair Golan also responded caustically: "I wish to congratulate Likud on an excellent slate chosen today. A slate that guarantees Likud's defeat and the victory of the democratic and liberal camp."

Golan continued his sharp attack on list members, calling it among other things "a list of convicted criminals, of suspects awaiting prosecution decisions, of operators and TikTok screamers."

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman chose to focus on Likud's relationship with ultra-Orthodox parties, writing in a brief response: "Today it's clearer than ever: Likud = ultra-Orthodox party lite! A real Likudnik votes only Liberman."

The attacks came after completion of vote counting in the primary, which finalized Likud's new slate, subject to reserved slots and regional allocations.