Meet Likud’s lineup: Who’s who in the 26th Knesset
Who’s who on Likud’s list? Meet the people behind the names, explore their backgrounds, and discover their paths to the 26th Knesset
One party, many personalities. Behind Likud’s familiar name are politicians with distinct backgrounds, ambitions and ideas about Israel’s future. In this installment of our Knesset profile series, we meet the people behind the party- and explore what they stand for, how they got here and what drives them.
Read more from i24NEWS’ profile series on the parties of the 26th Knesset >> Click here
Benjamin Netanyahu – No. 1
Benjamin Netanyahu began his career as a soldier and officer in Sayeret Matkal, Israel’s elite special-forces unit, serving from 1967 to 1972 and reaching the rank of captain. He took part in the 1972 rescue of hostages from a hijacked Sabena aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport under the command of Ehud Barak. After studying at MIT, where he earned a BSc in architecture and an MSc in business management, he worked for Boston Consulting Group and later in senior management at Jerusalem-based Rim Industries. He became internationally known as Israel’s deputy ambassador and then ambassador to the United Nations, before entering electoral politics.
Elected to the Knesset for Likud in 1988, Netanyahu became party leader in 1993 and prime minister in 1996, at 46 Israel’s youngest premier. He served from 1996–99, returned as finance minister in 2003, and led Israel again from 2009–21 and from late 2022, making him the country’s longest-serving prime minister since independence. Born in Tel Aviv in 1949 and raised partly in Jerusalem and the United States, Netanyahu is the son of historian Benzion Netanyahu. His brother Yoni was killed leading the 1976 Entebbe rescue. He has been married three times, has three children and lives in Caesarea.
Eli Cohen — No. 2
Eli Cohen began as a CPA at BDO Ziv Haft, then became an analyst and head of the corporate sector at S&P Maalot. He later served as deputy CEO of The Israel Land Development Company, one of Israel’s largest real estate companies, overseeing investments and business development, and lectured at Tel Aviv University in management, finance and accounting.
He entered the Knesset in 2015 with Kulanu, chaired the Reform Committee and helped advance banking, capital-markets and urban-renewal reforms. He served as economy minister, then intelligence minister, before joining Likud. In the most recent government, he served as foreign minister before becoming energy and infrastructure minister.
Born in Holon in 1972, Cohen is married with four children. He served 11 years in the Air Force, leaving as a lieutenant colonel.
Amir Ohana — No. 3
Amir Ohana is a criminal lawyer who interned at the Justice Ministry’s Central District Prosecution. Before law, he served six years in the Military Police and about six years in Shin Bet intelligence; he remains a reservist lieutenant colonel.
A founder of “Pride in Likud,” he entered the Knesset in 2015, making him the first openly gay MK for any right wing party, and chaired the special committee that steered through the Nation-State Law. He served as justice minister, then public security minister, and was most recently the Speaker of the Knesset.
Ohana was born in Be’er Sheva in 1976 and lives in Tel Aviv with his partner. They have two children born through surrogacy in the United States.
Yariv Levin — No. 4
Yariv Levin worked as a commercial and civil lawyer after earning his law degree from the Hebrew University. He also led the “New Young Lawyers” movement, served as deputy head of the Israel Bar Association and briefly as acting Bar head.
A longtime Likud activist, he led the party’s Modi’in branch and Netanyahu’s government-oversight headquarters. Elected to the Knesset in 2009, he chaired the Knesset Committee and became known for prolific lawmaking, once passing 40 laws in a single term. In the most recent government, he served as justice minister, spearheading the controversial judicial reforms.
Born in 1969, Levin served in Unit 8200 commanding an Arabic-language instruction track. He is married to Yifat, daughter of former Likud MK Yaakov Shamai, has three children, lives in Modi’in and supports Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Miri Regev — No. 5
Miri Regev built her career in military communications, joining the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit in 1986 and rising to deputy spokesperson. In 2004 she became chief military censor, and in 2005 was appointed IDF spokesperson during the disengagement and Second Lebanon War, leaving the army in 2008 as a colonel.
Elected to the Knesset in 2009, she chaired the Interior and Environmental Protection Committee before becoming culture and sport minister, where she prioritised access to culture in peripheral communities. She was the transport minister in the most recent government, and is the highest placed woman on the Likud list.
Born in Kiryat Gat in 1965, Regev is married with three children and lives in Rosh HaAyin. She holds degrees in informal education and an MBA.
Israel Katz — No. 6
Israel Katz began in public life through student politics, chairing the Hebrew University student union and national student association. He was suspended from university for a year after locking his school’s rector in his office during a protest against Arab violence. He later worked for Ariel Sharon and became director-general of the Industry and Trade Ministry.
He entered the Knesset in 1998 and has since held senior portfolios: agriculture, transport, intelligence, foreign affairs, finance, energy and defence. As transport minister he expanded rail and road links and signed the EU open-skies agreement. He became foreign minister in December 2023 and defence minister in November 2024. He is viewed as having a hardline on defense issues.
Born in 1955, Katz is a yeshiva graduate and former Paratroopers officer who reached captain. He lives in Kfar Ahim with his wife, lawyer Ronit Katz, and has two daughters.
Gideon Sa’ar — No. 7
Gideon Sa’ar worked as a journalist covering party and legal affairs before serving as assistant to the attorney general and state attorney. In 1999 he became cabinet secretary in Netanyahu’s first government.
Elected to the Knesset in 2003, he served as coalition chair, Likud faction chair and education minister, advancing free early-childhood education and establishing Ariel University. He later served as interior minister, left Likud in 2020 to found New Hope, and became justice minister in the 36th government before returning to Likud.
Born in Tel Aviv in 1966, Sa’ar is a lawyer with degrees in law and political science. He is married to broadcaster Geula Even-Sa’ar, has four children and is a devoted Real Madrid fan. One of his daughters, Alona, is an award-winning Israeli actress.
Ofir Katz — No. 8
Ofir Katz began as a journalist at Hadash BaEmek, a local news outlet in northern Israelm before moving into political advising. He advised Netanyahu in opposition, then served Limor Livnat and Gilad Erdan, ultimately becoming chief of staff at the Public Security Ministry.
He entered the Knesset in 2019 through the reserved Galilee and Valleys seat. He focused on health and funding for northern and southern Israel, later becoming coalition chair, Likud faction chair and Knesset Committee chair. His legislation included benefits for disabled veterans, tax exemptions for champion athletes and extended insurance claim deadlines.
Born in 1980, Katz lives in Afula with his wife and two children. He holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences and communications.
Talik Gvili — No. 9
Talik Gvili is a family-law lawyer and certified mediator who ran a law office in Be’er Sheva and previously owned a community café. She held senior roles in the Southern District Bar Association, including co-chairing its mediation forum.
After October 7, she closed her practice to campaign for the return of her son, Ran, a Negev SWAT fighter killed defending Kibbutz Alumim and whose body was abducted to Gaza. His body was returned in January 2026, the final hostage recovered from the Strip. Netanyahu used one of his reserved slots to place her ninth on Likud’s list for the coming election.
Gotliv is married to Itzik and has three children. She lives in Meitar in the Negev and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law.
Yoav Kisch — No. 10
Yoav Kisch served as an F-16 fighter pilot in the Air Force and later flew for El Al. He helped lead the reservists’ campaign for equal military and civilian service and was appointed to the state committee on sharing the national burden.
Elected to the Knesset in 2015, he chaired the Knesset Committee for nearly three years and later the Interior and Environmental Protection Committee. He also worked on communications regulation and the Channel 20 law. He served as deputy health minister and was most recently the education minister.
Born in Tel Aviv in 1968, Kish lives in Ramat Gan and has three children. His disabled son Matan died after living with a rare syndrome. He holds an MBA from the prestigious business school INSEAD. He is the grandson of Frederick Kisch, the highest ranking Jewish officer to ever serve in the British army.
Yaakov Bardugo — No. 11
Yaakov Bardugo began in public administration as director-general of the Center for Local Government and later the Economy and Industry Company. He became a confidant and adviser to David Levy, including in negotiations with the Palestinians, and later worked in business development.
For years he was a political commentator and presenter on Army Radio, then moved to Channel 14. Close to Netanyahu, he represented him in coalition negotiations after the 2022 election, declining a ministerial offer. He has been accused by several Likud MKs, including Yariv Levin and Shlomo Karhi, of intimidating them in order to push them towards his personal interests, including blocking the formation of the i24NEWS Hebrew channel.
Born in Lod in 1965, Bardugo served in Military Intelligence, including Unit 8200. He is married with two sons and two daughters and lives in northern Tel Aviv.
Miki Zohar — No. 12
Miki Zohar began in local public life in Kiryat Gat, serving as a city council member, deputy mayor with the sports portfolio, chair of the city’s economic company and head of Maccabi Kiryat Gat basketball.
He entered the Knesset in 2015 through the Negev seat, chaired the Committee for Distributive Justice and Social Equality and later the Knesset Committee. He served as coalition chair in the 23rd Knesset and led the legislation dissolving that Knesset. In the latest government, he served as culture minister.
Born in Be’er Sheva in 1980 to a single mother, Zohar is married with four children and lives in Kiryat Gat. He holds law degrees from the College of Law and Business and Bar-Ilan University.
Almog Cohen — No. 13
Almog Cohen spent about 11 years in the Israel Police after combat military service, including roles in SWAT, the Border Police undercover unit and as an undercover agent. He helped establish the Yoav and Rahat SWAT units.
A prominent activist for governance in the Negev, he co-founded Sayeret Bar’al after the May 2021 unrest, a volunteer force supporting police in security incidents. He was elected to the Knesset in 2022 on the slate of Otzma Yehudit, before defecting to Likud in 2026.
Born in Be’er Sheva in 1987, Cohen lives in Afikim with his wife and three children.
Amichai Chikli — No. 14
Amichai Chikli built his pre-political career in Zionist and educational leadership. A former Golani fighter and company commander in the Egoz unit, he founded the Tavor pre-military academy in 2010 and later led the Tavor Institute for Zionist Leadership.
He first ran with New Right in 2019, but the party did not win a seat. He entered the Knesset in 2021 with Yamina, where he led environmental and green-energy policy. He joined Likud ahead of the 2022 election, and became the minister for diaspora affairs.
Born in 1981 and raised in Jerusalem, Chikli is married with three children and lives in Kibbutz Hanaton. He holds degrees in security studies, Middle East studies, diplomacy and security.
Elisha Madan — No. 15
Elisha Madan served as a reservist fighter and was critically wounded during an operation in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza in November 2023. Four members of his unit were killed in the incident, including Yedidya Leiter, son of the current Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter.
After losing both legs, undergoing long hospitalisation and rehabilitation, he returned to public life, sharing his experience with soldiers, young people and communities across Israel.
Madan is the son of Rabbi Yaakov Madan, a head of Yeshivat Har Etzion. He is married to Miriam, has six children and lives in Avigayil in the West Bank, a settlement he helped establish.
David Peter — No. 16
David Petter is a lawyer specialising in administrative and constitutional litigation. He joined the Kohelet Policy Forum’s legal department in 2019, publishing research on judicial power, government legal advisers, immigration and judicial activism, before founding his own firm.
He has represented Netanyahu, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Yariv Levin in high-profile legal proceedings, as well as government positions in petitions over civil-service appointments and the closure of Army Radio.
Born in Hungary in 1987, Petter immigrated to Israel as a toddler. He is married with three children, lives in Yakir, and holds a law degree and master’s in finance from Bar-Ilan University, where he is also a doctoral student.
Moshe Saada — No. 17
Moshe Saada spent his professional career in the Justice Ministry’s Department for the Investigation of Police Officers, beginning as an intern and rising to deputy director. In 2016 he effectively led the department for about a year.
After unsuccessful bids to head the department and become state attorney, he left after 23 years to enter politics. He chose Likud over offers from Religious Zionism and was given a reserved slot.
Born in 1972, Saada grew up in Moshav Ramot Meir to parents from Tunisia and Morocco. He is married with five children and lives in Mazkeret Batya.
Haim Katz — No. 18
Haim Katz spent decades at Israel Aerospace Industries, joining in 1968 and becoming chair of the national IAI workers’ organisation in 1993. He was also active in the Histadrut, pension policy and Israeli football administration.
First elected to the Knesset in 1999 for One Nation, he joined Likud and repeatedly chaired the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee. As welfare minister he oversaw the first disability-benefit increase since 2002, though he resigned in 2019 after an indictment decision.
Born in Germany in 1947 and brought to Israel aged two, Katz lives in Shoham with his wife and has three children.
David ‘Dudi’ Amsalem — No. 19
David Amsalem worked for the Jerusalem Municipality for more than 20 years, including as director of the city-appearance department, and served on several municipal and development bodies.
A longtime Likud activist in Jerusalem, he entered the Knesset in 2015, chaired the Interior Committee and became coalition chair in 2017. He later served as communications minister and held roles covering digital affairs, government companies, the civil service and Knesset liaison. He was most recently the regional cooperation minister.
Born in Jerusalem in 1960, Amsalem lives in Ma’ale Adumim. A former Armoured Corps tank commander, he is a widower with two children and holds a degree in economics and business administration.
Eti Atia — No. 20
Eti Atia built her career in labour representation at Israel Aerospace Industries, serving as chief of staff to the national IAI workers’ organisation from 1993 to 2015. She was active in the labor union.
She later advised Haim Katz at the Welfare Ministry before entering the Knesset in 2023 through the Norwegian Law. She chaired the Special Committee for Foreign Workers and led lobbies for music, disability rights and students.
Born in Lod in 1960, Atia lives in Ramat Gan. She holds a law degree, a social-sciences degree focused on public administration, and a master’s in internal and public auditing.
Boaz Bismuth — No. 21
Boaz Bismuth began in journalism in 1983 as a sports reporter for Maariv, later moving into economics and foreign correspondence. He was Israel’s ambassador to Mauritania from 2004 to 2008, then became a leading foreign-news commentator and editor at Israel Hayom.
He edited Israel Hayom from 2017 and appeared on Channel 12’s “Studio Friday” from 2020. He made the move from journalism to politics in 2022, being elected to the Knesset and he was subsequently appointed head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
Born in Rehovot in 1964, Bismuth lives in Tel Aviv and has four children. He holds a political-science degree from Bar-Ilan and two master’s degrees from the Sorbonne, in international relations and African studies.
David Bitan — No. 22
David Bitan is a lawyer who has run his own practice since 1988. Before national politics, he served on Rishon LeZion’s council from 1988, including nine years as deputy mayor, and chaired Hapoel Rishon LeZion football club.
He entered the Knesset in 2015, chaired the Knesset Committee and became a forceful coalition chair. He stepped down from that role amid a police investigation that accused him of fraud, bribery and breach of public trust, but remained an MK and later chaired the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee. His court trial is ongoing.
Born in Morocco in 1960 and moving to Israel at the age of 5, Bitan served as a combat medic. He lives in Rishon LeZion with his wife and two children.
Shlomo Karhi — No. 23
Shlomo Karhi is an academic and CPA whose research focuses on scheduling, optimisation and applied mathematics. He lectured at Sapir Academic College and Ben-Gurion University before becoming a permanent lecturer in management at Bar-Ilan University.
He entered politics through Likud’s Negev District primary, winning the reserved seat ahead of the 2019 election. He has served in the Knesset since then, most recently as communications minister.
Born in 1982, the eldest of 17 siblings, Karhi studied at Yeshivat Kisay Rahamim under Rabbi Meir Mazuz. He is married with five children and lives in Moshav Zemerit. He holds a doctorate in industrial engineering and management from Ben-Gurion University.
Nir Barkat — No. 24
Nir Barkat is a high-tech entrepreneur who co-founded BRM in 1988, an early antivirus-software group that became a major technology investor. Its investment in Check Point produced enormous returns, and he later helped establish the IVN venture-philanthropy network.
After an unsuccessful Jerusalem mayoral run in 2003, he was elected mayor in 2008 and re-elected in 2013. He entered the Knesset in 2019, served on key security and finance committees, and became economy minister in the most recent government. He has clashed with Netanyahu in the past, and reportedly tried to remove him as Likud leader shortly after October 7th.
Born in Tel Aviv in 1959 and raised in Jerusalem, Barkat served in the Paratroopers and reached lieutenant colonel. He is married with three daughters and lives in Jerusalem. In 2015, he successfully prevented a terror attack in Tzahal Square in Jerusalem, disarming and subduing the knife-wielding attacker.
Gila Gamliel — No. 25
Gila Gamliel began in student leadership, chairing Ben-Gurion University’s student association and later becoming the first—and still only—woman to chair the National Student Association.
Elected to the Knesset in 2009, she served as deputy minister for young people, students and women, then as minister for senior citizens and social equality. She later served as environmental protection minister.
Born in 1974, Gamliel is married with two daughters and lives in Tel Aviv. She served in the Air Force, holds degrees in Middle East history, philosophy and law, and is the sister of Gedera council head Yoel Gamliel.
Eli Goldschmidt — No. 26
Eli Goldschmidt began as a lawyer and served in the Military Advocate General’s Corps in reserve. He was an MK for Labor and One Israel from 1992 to 2001, chairing the Knesset, Economics and Finance Committees.
After leaving politics in 2001, he moved into broadcasting and business, co-presenting Channel 2’s morning show and becoming deputy CEO for communications and regulation at the Israel Corporation. In 2026 he briefly planned a new centrist party before accepting a reserved Likud slot .
Born in Tel Aviv in 1953, Goldschmidt lives in Sderot. He holds a master’s in law from Tel Aviv University and is married with children.
Erez Tadmor — No. 27
Erez Tadmor is a media figure, publicist and co-founder of Im Tirtzu, a right-wing advocacy group. He worked as a reporter and commentator for Yediot Aharonot, Galey Israel, Channel 13 and Makor Rishon, and later presented “The Open Studio” on Channel 14.
He worked in Likud’s Jerusalem election headquarters, served as Netanyahu’s speechwriter and was Likud’s hasbara spokesperson in 2019. He ran unsuccessfully for the Knesset that year.
Born in Kiryat Arba in 1980, Tadmor has lived in Efrat since 2007 with his wife and three children. He served in the IDF Engineering Corps and holds degrees from the Hebrew University and Bar-Ilan University.
Want to know who else will be in the 26th Knesset?: