Who will be Netanyahu's number 2? The senior figures – and the MK who might surprise

One of the most intriguing battles in the Likud primaries is taking place right at the top. It is not about a spot in the top five or the top three, but about the peak itself: who will capture the first place after Benjamin Netanyahu.

In the Likud, and particularly among Netanyahu's associates, the battle is being waged between three candidates: Yariv Levin, Amir Ohana, and Eli Cohen. All three are the Prime Minister's confidants, and he supports them equally. The big question is what the Likud members think about the candidacy of these three.

Amir Ohana enjoys great popularity, partly due to his standing by Netanyahu's side during his trial and in solving complex political crises, which he handled as Speaker of the Knesset. Ohana has quite a few loyal members at his disposal, so he enjoys support that should almost certainly secure him a spot in the top three or even first place.

Despite his firm views on the right-wing line and the need for judicial reform, Ohana is considered a statesmanlike figure, and his speech is moderate and articulate. Ohana is also the only one of the three whom Netanyahu recently added to the Likud's strategy group, responsible for formulating the media line together with the party's professional team.

Yariv Levin is also fighting for first place. Beyond the natural popularity that always places him in the high spots, he stood at the forefront against the judicial system in the last term, with the judicial reform he announced at the beginning of the term.

Although he was often criticized from within for not succeeding in promoting all the clauses of the reform in full, the fact that he was the one who absorbed the most criticism from the opposition and the judicial system places him very high in the popularity index. Levin was not as accessible as Ohana to activists, so his vote is based almost entirely on general popularity rather than internal party deals.

In addition, Levin serves as the Prime Minister's main executive political arm, head of the coalition negotiation team, and as someone who handles almost every crisis that arises in the coalition. This ensures that Levin will be placed very high, and he remains a serious candidate to capture first place.

Eli Cohen served at the beginning of the term as Foreign Minister, and later moved to the position of Energy Minister. In each of these positions, he maintained a close connection with the activists and is considered one of the most accessible ministers for Likud members. He does not miss family events, phone calls, or public inquiries.

Cohen is considered a minister whose door is always open, and his solutions are creative and often characterized by thinking outside the box. Unlike Ohana and Levin, who carefully selected their appearances, Cohen is available almost always for any interview. The fact that he serves as a cabinet member makes him a sought-after interviewee.

However, the battle for first place cannot be complete without another candidate who might surprise everyone: Tali Gottlieb. That she is running for the highest spots is clear, but for her, even first place could be a realistic option.

The reason for this is the great popularity she enjoys, her special style, and her prominent appearances in the media. Gottlieb is considered someone who does not account to anyone, and puts in their place not only critics from the opposition but sometimes from within the party as well. Gottlieb does not participate in the internal political game of deals, but in matters where she is an expert—the judicial system and criminal law—her door is open to provide advice to both senior Likud members and the general public.