Netanyahu taps bereaved father Itzik Bonzel for Likud slate, bringing his reserved spots to 10

By Ariela Karmel

You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

8 September 2026, 3:46 pm

Edit

Ariela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.

Itzik Bunzel attends a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, January 19, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu taps bereaved father Itzik Bonzel for a reserved spot on the Likud Knesset slate, bringing the number of candidates who have effectively been given reserved places by the party leader to 10 — one more than the nine he had originally been allocated.

Bonzel, whose son Amit was killed fighting in Gaza in December 2023, will be placed 29th on the slate — meaning he is unlikely to make it into the Knesset. He has gained attention for vocal interruptions and protests at the Knesset and High Court of Justice.

Netanyahu was originally granted eight discretionary slots for candidates of his choosing, two of which were designated for Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and minister Haim Katz, while an additional ninth reserved place was allocated for Defense Minister Israel Katz.

But the slate announced by Likud now includes 10 candidates receiving reserved placements: Israel Katz, Sa’ar, Haim Katz, Talik Gvili, Jacob Bardugo, Elisha Madan, David Peter, Eli Goldschmidt, Bonzel and Amir Avivi.