Likud Reserves Knesset Spot for Wounded Gaza Veteran

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday that he has decided to reserve the 11th spot on the Likud party's list for the 26th Knesset for Elisha Medan, a reserve soldier who was critically wounded during combat operations in the Gaza Strip. Medan, one of the founders of the Avigail settlement in the Hebron Hills area of the West Bank, lost both legs after sustaining life-threatening injuries during an operation in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.

The incident, which occurred during the ongoing war that began on October 7, also claimed the lives of four of Medan's fellow soldiers. Despite the severe injuries and the heavy physical toll, Medan's lengthy rehabilitation process has become emblematic of strength, determination, and the will to continue living fully. Rather than retreating from public life, he chose to look forward, continuing to be active and offering hope to many Israelis. Likud officials said in a statement that his personal story reflects the spirit of Israel's fighters and demonstrates Israeli society's ability to withstand the most difficult tests, recover, and continue building.

Medan, who lit a torch at a national healing and rehabilitation ceremony and has received numerous honors for his actions and courage, embodies values of dedication, responsibility, love of the land, and fellowship. His journey from the battlefield through recovery serves as living testimony to the Israeli spirit. His father is Rabbi Yaakov Medan, head of the Har Etzion hesder yeshiva—a religious Zionist institution combining Torah study with military service—and a prominent opponent of proposed legislation regarding military conscription for yeshiva students.

In its decision, Likud stated that Elisha Medan embodies the values the party seeks to promote, and that his path from combat to rehabilitation serves as an inspiration to the broader public. The complete Likud list, including all reserved spots, is expected to be revealed in the coming hours.

The decision to reserve a spot for Medan comes amid growing tensions within the party over the reserved list. Likud's internal court issued an ultimatum to the prime minister Monday regarding publication of the reserved spots, but Netanyahu chose not to meet the deadline and announced the list would be published Tuesday morning.

Notably, Oren Dubronsky, a senior businessman who was slated to fill the 11th reserved spot on Netanyahu's behalf, announced overnight that he would not run on the party list, beacuse he would then be required to renounce his American citizenship. In his place, the prime minister decided to reserve the spot for Elisha Medan.