The conscription struggle at the Likud primaries: The battle in the Dan-Tel Aviv district

The Likud primaries have begun, and one of the most intriguing battles is taking place in the Dan-Tel Aviv district, where the tension between reserve soldiers and the ultra-Orthodox sector is finding direct expression at the ballot box. In the Dan-Tel Aviv district, a battle is being waged between Adv. Shlomo Lerner, a reserve soldier, and Elyashiv Rabin, an ultra-Orthodox candidate who relies, among other things, on the organized enrollment of ultra-Orthodox individuals into the party. The local contest illustrates how one of the central disputes accompanying Israeli society in recent times is also seeping into the internal struggles within the ruling party.

Lerner, an entrepreneur and economist, served according to his headquarters for more than 400 days of reserve duty during the war, including in the Gaza Strip. Opposing him is Rabin, an ultra-Orthodox man who previously served as an aide to former Shas chairman Eli Yishai. Rabin enjoys the support of a group of ultra-Orthodox party members in the district, and in the rivals' headquarters, they attribute significant weight to this organization in the tight race.

Prime Minister and Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu intervened in the struggle and expressed public support for Lerner. Ahead of the primaries, Netanyahu filmed a video of support alongside him and called on the district's party members to vote for him. The support for Lerner is part of a broader intervention by Netanyahu in the battles in the realistic districts, where he has marked his preferred candidates.

Rabin relies on the ultra-Orthodox organization and the support of figures in Likud, including MK David Bitan. In Lerner's circle, they claim that about 1,000 new ultra-Orthodox party members in the district may give Rabin a significant advantage. This is a figure that originated from the rival's headquarters and not an official figure from Likud.

Organized enrollments have for years been one of the centers of power in the internal politics of Likud. Groups and communities enroll in the party to gain influence over its elected officials and institutions, and now the ultra-Orthodox enrollment is also being tested at the ballot box. The struggle in the district takes on additional significance against the backdrop of the sharp dispute surrounding the conscription law and the burden placed on the reserve system.