About 170,000 registered Likud members are expected to vote on Wednesday in the party's internal elections at roughly 85 different Likud branches nationwide.
In 65 other branches, agreements have already been reached, and elections are not necessary.
The clashes over local and Central Committee seats are exposing power struggles ahead of the national primaries as political consultants play central roles on many competing lists.
“The elections in the local branches are a promo for the national primaries," a Likud source told Walla. "It is a measure of the strength of each group, and signals how many deals will need to be made afterwards."
Elections to proceed in 85 different Likud branches
In Kiryat Gat, a slate backed by Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar and Mayor Kfir Swisa is running against the slate of Dudu Arvaz. Arvaz is backed by a larger group of ministers and senior party figures, including Energy Minister Eli Cohen, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, former mayor Aviram Dahari, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and MK Ze'ev Elkin.
In Beersheba, the slate headed by Shimon Boker and backed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, includes Karhi’s aide, Elad Zamir, and Zohar's support.
Opposing them is a slate headed by Haim Sabag, running for branch chair, who is the father of Aviv Sabag, an adviser to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. A third slate, led by retired chief superintendent Yossi Pitosi, is backed by Tourism Minister Haim Katz, Cohen's advisor Haim Hadad, and Harve Maimon, a relative of former MK Silvan Shalom.
In Ramat Gan, the current chair, Moshe Revach, is leading the local Likud slate against a rival list headed by Lir Levy, an adviser to Education Minister Yoav Kisch, alongside fellow advisor Lilach Zemmer Tov, according to Likud sources.
In Rehovot, Mayor Matan Dival is facing off against the branch’s veterans, and Likud insiders believe they have a good chance of winning. Their slate includes Dudi Bichler, an adviser to Economic Affairs Committee Chair and Likud MK David Bitan, and Channel 14 panelist Aviv Itach.
In Kfar Saba, the political adviser to Defense Minister Katz is heading a slate that is competing against a list led by Zivi Alon.
In Jerusalem, one of the most significant clashes is taking shape between the camps of Amsalem and Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat on one side, and MK Amit Halevi on the other.
Elections for party institutions, ideological groups, and cultural centers
The struggle for control will soon move from the different branches and onto the party’s institutions.
Cohen and Zohar are preparing to run for chairmanship of the Likud secretariat against Defense Minister Katz. Elections are planned to be held in the next 90 days.
Regional Cooperation Minister Dudi Amsalem is expected to challenge Tourism Minister Katz in elections for the chairmanship of Likud's Central Committee.
In addition, the internal elections are challenging Likud’s ideological and cultural centers, such as the Liberals, the Hillel Forum, the Dror Forum, the Herut Forum, the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, and others.
For these factions, the branch elections serve as an initial test of strength ahead of the party’s general primaries.