A movement fleeing from the truth: this is what a list designed by draft-dodgers looks like

About 15 years ago, young people disillusioned with the political system decided to register for the Likud under the name 'New Likudniks'. While estimates of their numbers vary, their influence on the list was minimal. It is true that not all of these 'new' members were the heart and soul of the Likud, but they were certainly not 'leftists' attempting a hostile takeover, as their opponents claimed.

Ultimately, the Likud establishment prevailed. The influence of that group faded, and internal disputes led to only a few remaining in the party. It is hard to know if anyone remembered that group of moderate and liberal right-wingers when the primary results came in last night, heralding one of the most barren Likud lists in history: very few surprises and zero new faces (except for spots reserved for Benjamin Netanyahu). The main interest in the primaries boiled down to: 'Where will Tali Gotliv finish?'

Looking at the updated list (before Netanyahu's reservations), one wants to 'dip it in tea' to digest it: a group of men, mostly in their sixties or older, known for their dysfunction in the outgoing government. And they are not Zionists.

Why did we get such a conservative list? Because into the vacuum created by the removal of the 'New Likudniks' entered Haredi vote contractors. These are not independent national-religious Jews, but organized registrants from the Haredi camp. Some are not even Zionists (for example, from the Gur Hasidic sect) and many will not even vote 'Mahal' (the Likud ballot) in the general election, as they support Haredi parties.

Thousands of such registrants, organized in headquarters, became the X-factor of various deals. Whoever obtained their support saw their deal prevail. The influence here is not political, but social. We saw this in the conscription issue, when incumbent Knesset members voted for formulas that prioritize draft-dodging and for a bill granting draft-dodgers a unique status.

Discrimination against women is another alarming marker. Minister Miki Zohar, at an event for Haredi registrants, invented a story about the alleged arrest of a deserter in a kollel to pander to those studying Torah. A glance at the emerging Likud list reveals only two women in realistic spots: Miri Regev (8th place) and Tali Gotliv (20th place). Even if Benjamin Netanyahu dedicates his five remaining spots to women, their number will only grow to seven. This represents the exclusion of women from decision-making spaces—from parties to government ministries.

The largest political movement in Israel was so afraid of young, value-driven people that it fell like a ripe fruit into the hands of those who brought a once-proud movement to its knees, enslaving it to the values of those who should be called by their exact name: 'the new draft-dodgers'.