Candidates receiving Netanyahu's video endorsement and a minister's AI-edited photo
Ahead of the Likud primaries, Benjamin Netanyahu has refrained from endorsing incumbent ministers or Knesset members. The only exception is Almog Cohen, who recently joined the party. Meanwhile, Transport Minister Miri Regev, lacking an endorsement video, shared an AI-edited photo from four years ago to imply support.
The battle for the party list is heating up: ahead of the Likud primaries this coming Monday, a clear and surprising trend has emerged from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. So far, Netanyahu has refrained from granting a public endorsement video to any serving minister or Knesset member from Likud.
The only serving Knesset member to receive support from the Prime Minister is Almog Cohen, who recently moved from the Otzma Yehudit party to Likud and received a special seniority waiver to run. In the joint video, Netanyahu called Cohen a "fighter" and a "man of the Negev," praising his struggle for the establishment of an airport in the south. Netanyahu noted that Cohen stood with them during a decisive vote, a gesture he has not forgotten. In response, Cohen called for the victory of the camp led by the Prime Minister.
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Additional support was given to Shuki Yehoshua Ohana, a lieutenant colonel in the reserves and former mayor of Safed, who is running for the Galilee and Valleys district slot.
Ohana's headquarters stated that the Prime Minister's support expresses confidence in his experience and work for the North, and that cooperation with the country's leadership will bring significant influence where decisions are made.
