Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to appoint prominent political commentator Yaakov Bardugo to a reserved spot on the Likud Knesset slate under the terms of the merger agreement with Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope party, Channel 14 political correspondent Moti Castel reported on Tuesday. High-level consultations are currently underway to finalize exact slate placements and candidate rankings.
Channel 14 previously reported for the first time that Prime Minister Netanyahu had initially set aside an additional reserved slot for MK Michel Buskila under the merger accord with Sa’ar, beyond the prime minister’s personal quota of reserved slots. According to Castel, however, Sa’ar agreed to waive Buskila’s reserved spot to seat Bardugo on the joint ticket.
The clause addressing the appointment appears separately in the factional merger agreement, stipulating that “the party chairman shall be authorized, in consultation with the faction’s legal counsel, to determine the placement of the National Right candidate on the slate.” In total, ten reserved spots are slated for distribution. On Monday night, Netanyahu met with Sa’ar for an extended one-on-one meeting that touched on upcoming diplomatic initiatives expected to be unveiled in the near future.
Concurrently, one of the most prominent public figures Netanyahu tapped for a reserved slot is Talik Gueily, mother of the late Master Sergeant Ran Gueily of the Yamas counter-terror unit and an Independence Day torchbearer. On the morning of October 7, Ran rushed into the line of fire despite being injured, saved numerous lives, and fell in battle. His body was abducted by terrorists into the Gaza Strip and later recovered and returned to Israel in Operation “Braveheart.” In the months since, his mother has become a prominent public voice dedicated to memorializing his heroism and sacrifice.
Joining her on the ticket is Elisha Medan, an IDF combat reservist and one of the founders of the Jewish community of Avigayil in the Hebron Hills. Medan was critically wounded during intense combat operations against terrorists in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, in a battle that claimed the lives of four of his comrades. As a result of his severe wounds, Medan underwent a bilateral leg amputation and an extensive rehabilitation journey, later receiving the honor of lighting the Torch of Healing and Rehabilitation on Independence Day. Medan was selected to take the spot originally slated for high-tech entrepreneur Oren Dobronsky, who opted not to run in parliament.
Another key figure Netanyahu selected for the slate is attorney David Peter, a prominent voice within the conservative legal camp. In recent years, Peter has been a vocal critic of judicial activism and the conduct of the Attorney General’s office, and has played an active legal role in key public interest cases championed by Netanyahu’s government. His inclusion injects an outspoken advocate of judicial reform directly into the Likud list—a central issue that remains a major focal point in the political arena.
Subsequently, the party announced an additional reserved candidate: Brig. Gen. (res.) Amir Avivi, founder of the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDFS / HaBithonistim). Alongside Avivi’s appointment, the movement he founded was announced to formally affiliate with Likud. Avivi completed a long, distinguished IDF career in senior command roles, including Deputy Comptroller of the Defense Establishment, Chief of Staff to the IDF Chief of Staff, Deputy Commander of the Gaza Division, Commander of the Sagi Brigade, Commander of the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion, and Commander of the Combat Engineering School.