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 is “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.

“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 [Gadi] Eisenkot, Yair Golan, [Avigdor] Lieberman and the Arab parties,” the statement said.

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

Final primary results, according to Israeli poll aggregator Israel Elects: