Dozens of senior party members compete for shrinking number of spots in Netanyahu’s Likud primaries

Polling stations opened for the Likud party's primaries on Monday during one of the most dramatic and tense election campaigns in the party's history. Nearly 200,000 registered members are expected to decide who will represent the party in the next Knesset.

The polling stations are spread throughout the country and will operate until the evening hours. The main center, where the final results will be received, starting at 9 PM, will be at Bloomfield Stadium.

On Thursday, the final list of candidates was published. Forty ministers, Knesset members, and former Knesset members will compete for a few spots on the national list. Eighty-four additional candidates are vying for the guaranteed representation slots in the various districts.

Behind the scenes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was secured at the top of the list, holds nine additional reserved spots. For the incumbent Knesset members, the implications are potentially devastating: up to the 25th spot, only 18 realistic places remain, virtually guaranteeing that around half of the current lawmakers will find themselves out of the Knesset.

In addition, the Likud party court's decision from Sunday, stating that incumbent Knesset members will not be able to run for the district slots, is intensifying the internal battles.

Member of Knesset Tali Gotliv, who is emerging as one of the hottest names in the primaries, referred to her candidacy at an election conference: "We too should enjoy this miracle called the State of Israel. Finally, Moroccans in Ashdod and Iraqis from Ramla also deserve to enjoy this miracle."

The night before the polls opened was characterized by an atmosphere of a "knife fight." Among Netanyahu's circle and senior party officials, there are active efforts to oust Minister Nir Barkat. Netanyahu himself took the unusual step of intervening in the battles over the district slots, releasing videos in support of his preferred candidates.

At the same time, tensions are also rising among other senior officials, as in a meeting between Minister Idit Silman and Deputy Minister Almog Cohen with the managers of the Gur Hasidic movement's headquarters, where threats were heard: "Whoever doesn't help me, I have no brakes. There was one mayor who was against me, they slaughtered the mayor, and I will slaughter."

Meanwhile, Judge Noam Sohlberg rejected the Likud party's request and ruled that information regarding voters' identities would not be passed on to the parties in real time. However, he approved the publication of voter turnout rates at each polling station at least four times a day, in order to encourage participation while maintaining privacy.