Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Energy Minister Eli Cohen top informal Likud poll at Eilat conference

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Energy Minister Eli Cohen received the most votes in informal “mini-primaries” during the ruling Likud party’s weekend “Likudiada” mega-conference in Eilat, an early indicator of party activists’ preferences ahead of primaries expected in the next few months as Israel prepares for elections currently slated for October.

The conference drew criticism as it took place amid ongoing fighting with Hezbollah, which has continued to bombard northern communities with rocket and drone attacks, but that did not prevent most of the cabinet from visiting the southern resort town of Eilat for the weekend.

Ohana and Cohen were followed in the top 10 by Transportation Minister Miri Regev, Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Knesset Economics Committee chair David Bitan, MK Sasson Guetta, Coalition Whip Ofir Katz, and MK Tally Gotliv.

Notably, Economy Minister Nir Barkat, who has previously cited internal surveys positioning him as a leading contender to succeed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as party leader, finished a relatively low 15th. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi came in at 17 and Education Minister Yoav Kisch was 20th.

The vote reflects only the roughly 2,000 activists who attended the conference, rather than the party’s 120,000 members, and while the results offer a useful snapshot of activists’ sentiment, they are not necessarily predictive of success in the primaries. For example, both Regev and Gamliel performed well at the Likudiada in 2022 but were ultimately placed ninth and 30th on the party list, respectively.

Still, the rankings are closely watched within the party as an early indicator of grassroots support ahead of primaries that have yet to be scheduled.