Netanyahu Reserving Four Likud Slate Slots for Smotrich Technical Merger

Prime Minister Netanyahu will reserve four of his eight sought-after Likud slate slots for Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist party in a technical merger meant to keep the right-wing bloc from bleeding seats if Smotrich's list falls below the electoral threshold. The four positions would sit in highly realistic spots at the top of the slate, giving Smotrich's team cabinet-viable seats without a full merger. The Likud Constitution Committee meets Sunday with Netanyahu present to decide between his standard-primaries-plus-eight-reserved format and a Ministers' Outline that swaps primaries for an Arrangements Committee headed by Bat Yam Mayor Tzvika Brot. Both tracks give Netanyahu the same eight reserved slots, cementing his grip on the slate ahead of the October election.