Likud's reserved slots: Ari Spitz refused Netanyahu's offer
Netanyahu demands 11 reserved slots within the first 40 spots, five of them in the top ten. The Prime Minister offered a reserved slot to Ari Spitz—who rejected the proposal.
Assessment
The refusal of a proposed safe seat by a potential candidate signals internal friction within the Likud party ahead of elections. Coalition negotiations are often tested by such individual decisions, revealing the limits of leadership's control over its list. The specific demand for 11 reserved spots in the top 40, with 5 in the top 10, underscores the high stakes of internal party positioning. Attention will turn to whether other candidates follow suit or accept terms, and how this affects the party's unity and public messaging.