Netanyahu Secures Likud Spot for Wounded War Hero Elisha Medan
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured the 11th spot on the Likud list for wounded war hero Elisha Medan. The decision comes amid intense internal party pressure and tight deadlines before the final submission of Knesset electoral lists.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday morning his decision to secure a spot on the Likud electoral list for Elisha Medan, a reserve soldier and co-founder of the Avigail outpost in Mount Hebron. Medan was critically injured during operational activity in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, where four of his comrades fell in battle and he lost both of his legs. Sources told ynet that Medan is expected to be placed in the 11th spot on the Likud list.
In 2025, Medan was honored to light a torch at the official Independence Day ceremony. The Likud party released a statement praising his resilience:
"Elisha's long rehabilitation process has become a symbol of strength, determination, and faith in the power of life. From his severe injury and the heavy physical toll he paid, Elisha chose to look forward, to continue acting, strengthening, and giving hope to many Israelis. His personal story expresses the spirit of Israel's fighters and the strength of Israeli society to withstand the most difficult trials, rehabilitate, and continue building."
Likud Internal Deadlines and Delays
The final deadline for submitting candidate lists to the Central Elections Committee is Tuesday at 10:00 PM. On Monday, the Likud Court set a deadline for Netanyahu to publish his secured spots by 9:00 PM, warning him that he risked a secret ballot in the Likud Secretariat. Despite this, Netanyahu appears to be waiting until the last minute to reveal the remaining names on his list.
The Likud Secretariat meeting, originally scheduled for 11:00 AM on Tuesday to approve the secured spots, was postponed to 2:00 PM. Netanyahu, represented by Likud legal advisor Ilan Bombach, stated that he intended to submit his list of secured candidates on Tuesday morning to allow secretariat members "sufficient time of several hours" to review it.
Pressure from the Right and Strategic Concerns
Behind the scenes, Netanyahu has already spoken with potential candidates, and one has even been filmed for campaign materials, though the video has not been released as Netanyahu remains undecided.
Senior ministers and Netanyahu's close circle, including Sara Netanyahu and Yair Netanyahu, are pressuring him to secure spots for prominent right-wing figures. A key concern raised in internal discussions is the scenario of a parliamentary deadlock between political blocs. Strategists warn that Likud must avoid securing candidates who might defect to the opposing bloc and help them secure the necessary 61-seat majority in the Knesset.
Sources within Likud note that while Netanyahu traditionally delays such decisions until the final moments, his hesitation this time is also due to his inability so far to secure a "game-changing" candidate for the list.
