From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Netanyahu taps right-wing pundit Bardugo, ex-Labor MK Goldschmidt for final Likud slots
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela 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.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu taps close confidant Jacob Bardugo, a commentator on the pro-Netanyahu Channel 14, and former Labor MK Eli Goldschmidt for his final two reserved spots on the Likud Knesset slate.
Bardugo is set to be given the 11th slot on the slate and Goldschmidt the 26th. Other candidates given reserved slots earlier today are set to be included on the Likud slate as follows: Talik Gvili, 9th slot; Elisha Madan, 15th, David Peter, 16th; Itzik Bunzel (whose son Amit was killed fighting in Gaza), 29th; Amir Avivi, 35th.
Goldschmidt, a former Labor MK, underwent a political “transformation” following the October 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel and now supports Netanyahu and Likud, according to the party.
Bardugo, a longtime Netanyahu associate, takes the eighth and final slot that Netanyahu was given to fill with candidates of his choosing and will be placed 11th on the overall Likud slate.
According to Hebrew media reports, Bardugo is seeking the justice portfolio, an ambition he has explicitly expressed in the past.
With Bardugo and Goldschmidt’s selections, Netanyahu has now filled all eight of his discretionary slots.
The Times of Israel Community.