Likud has not published a platform for this election. One promise I did find in writing is from Benjamin Netanyahu's own Telegram channel: "As long as I am prime minister, no Palestinian state will be established, not in Gaza and not in Judea and Samaria."4
Who is Likud?
Likud is on the ballot under the letters Mem, Het, Lamed, "Machal," running as a single party with Benjamin Netanyahu at the top of the list.12023
What has Likud published?
Start with what isn't there. There's no platform document, what Israelis call a matza, on the Likud website, on the older Likud movement site, or on Netanyahu's personal site.120 The last Likud platform I could find on record is from the 2009 election, and it's archived by the Israel Democracy Institute, not by the party.2122 That document is seventeen years old, so I'm not using it for this episode.
Here's what does exist. The Likud website is one long page, in Hebrew.1 It has a section called "Our Way: Likud's Six Pillars," which is six short paragraphs of principles.1 Then a big section of government achievements, with sources, last checked September 23.1 Then the candidate list.1 Across the top is the campaign slogan, "Yamin o Falastin," "Right or Palestine."1
Most of the specific positions come from Netanyahu himself: posts on his official Telegram channel, and three long interviews he posted to his own YouTube channel between late August and late September.3171819 When I quote an interview, I'll say so, because that's someone talking, not a written platform.
Likud's positions, topic by topic
The same twelve topics, in the same order, for every party. Where nothing was published, the episode says so.
What does Likud say about security and foreign policy?
The first pillar on the website is "Security without compromise": a strong IDF, "decisive victory over the enemy," and security for every citizen.1
Another pillar says united Jerusalem is Israel's capital forever, and calls for "strengthening settlement and sovereignty in all parts of the land."1 The site doesn't define "sovereignty."1
On a Palestinian state, Netanyahu has posted it more than once. In August he wrote that as long as he's prime minister, no Palestinian state will be established in Gaza or in Judea and Samaria.4 A second post twelve days later says no Palestinian state "controlled by Iran."3 In a Channel 14 interview he posted on August 30, he said, "There will not be, and we will not allow, a Palestinian state."19
On Gaza, a post from September 2 says Israel controls the territory and is "staying on this line," and that the goal is disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza.5 In an i24 interview he posted on September 5, he said there would be no reconstruction before demilitarization.18
On Iran, he posted on September 9, "We are committed to defeating the terror regime in Iran, and we will do it."6 In the Channel 14 interview he said Iran won't have a nuclear weapon while he is prime minister.19 On Lebanon, a post says Israel will keep destroying terror infrastructure in what he calls the security zone.7
On the West Bank, a Likud statement in August talks about continuing "the historic momentum" in settlement in Judea and Samaria.11 In the Channel 14 interview he also said he's determined to stop settlers who go into Palestinian villages, saying "that's not your job."19
On foreign relations, the site pillar is "expanding the circle of peace" and strategic alliances.1 In a late September post, he wrote that he invited the presidents of Paraguay, Panama and Bolivia to join what he calls the "Isaac Accords," and called on them to join an American initiative to withdraw from what he called "the corrupt international court."13
What does Likud say about accountability for October 7?
Nothing on the website.1 In the Channel 14 interview, Netanyahu said "we believe there should be a national commission of inquiry," which he called "equal": half opposition, half coalition.19
What does Likud say about the economy and the cost of living?
The economy pillar says: free market, less regulation, more competition.1 In a conversation with Oren Dobronsky, posted to Netanyahu's YouTube channel on September 23, he said he's committed to breaking the remaining monopolies to lower prices, including food and pharmaceuticals.17 He also said, "I now commit" to appointing a new head of the Competition Authority.17 And he said the free market policy means keeping taxes low.17
What every party says about the economy and the cost of living
What does Likud say about housing?
The site mentions investment in housing in the periphery, with no details.1 The concrete item is for reserve soldiers. An August 9 post announces about twenty thousand apartments or plots on preferred terms in 2026 and 2027, and raises the reservists' share in the government's "discounted apartment" lotteries from half to three quarters.10 It also offers reservists free land value on plots in top priority areas, not counting development costs.10 That was announced as a government program.
What does Likud say about religion and state?
On Haredi military service, the website's achievements section reports a rise in Haredi enlistment and says "the mission continues": to widen the circle of those who serve and ease the burden on those who carry it.1 In the Channel 14 interview, Netanyahu said the draft law failed because "there were mistakes," and that it should be handled differently.19 He said whoever does not study Torah should enlist, and whoever says "we will die rather than enlist" should go straight to prison.19 I couldn't find a published position on Shabbat, marriage, conversion, or religious funding.
What does Likud say about the judiciary and governance?
Nothing on the website.1 In the Channel 14 interview Netanyahu said checks and balances between the branches have shifted to the unelected judiciary, and that balance must be restored.19 On judicial selection, he said a reform "has already started and is supposed to take effect in the new government."19 He did not give details.
What does Likud say about education?
The education pillar is "education for excellence and love of the land," connection to Jewish heritage, and pride in a Jewish and democratic state.1 In the Dobronsky conversation he said he wants AI education to start in first grade, and eventually in kindergarten.17
What does Likud say about health?
The site mentions investment in health in the periphery.1 In an August post from Ariel, Netanyahu wrote, "We established a university here, we will build a hospital here."9
What does Likud say about social welfare, pensions and the elderly?
I couldn't find a published position on pensions, the elderly, or welfare allowances.
What every party says about social welfare, pensions and the elderly
What does Likud say about Arab citizens and minorities?
In July, Netanyahu posted about a plan against crime in Arab society that he says the government approved: the Shin Bet joins the police, about half a billion shekels, and new units against arms trafficking and crime organizations.14 In the Channel 14 interview he said, "This is the nation-state of the Jewish people. There are rights for others, but first of all it is our nation-state."19 Asked in the same interview about Arab building in the Negev and Galilee, he said he set up a team to bring farms into the Negev and Galilee, with preference for reservists.19
What does Likud say about immigration, absorption and the diaspora?
I couldn't find a published position on immigration or the diaspora.
What every party says about immigration, absorption and the diaspora
What does Likud say about the environment, energy and transportation?
The site mentions infrastructure.1 In the Dobronsky conversation he talked about gas, and repeated a suggestion he says came from Elon Musk to cover part of the Negev with solar panels, but he didn't present it as a plan.17 I couldn't find a published position on climate or transportation.
What every party says about the environment, energy and transportation
What Likud puts front and center
Two things. The slogan, "Right or Palestine," on the site and in his posts.112 And one more policy from a September 16 post: "We will revoke the citizenship of anyone who defames IDF soldiers around the world."8 The post doesn't say how that would work.8 He also said in the Dobronsky conversation that his goal is for Israel to become the third AI power within five years, after the US and China.17
What Likud hasn't published
Likud has no platform for this election. There's no published position on pensions and the elderly, immigration and the diaspora, climate, transportation, or Shabbat, marriage and conversion. On the courts and on October 7, what exists comes from interviews, not from anything the party wrote down.
Sources
Everything above comes from what Likud made public: its platform, website and official accounts, and on-the-record statements by its leaders. Each line was checked against a saved copy of its source. Most sources are in Hebrew.
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Transcript
The words as spoken in the episode, from its captions. Select a time to listen from there.
Full transcript
Intro
Likud has not published a platform for this election. One promise I did find in writing is from Benjamin Netanyahu's own Telegram channel. As long as I am Prime Minister, no Palestinian state will be established, not in Gaza and not in Judea and Samaria. This is a close read, and this is a series about what Israel's parties are promising to do in their own published words for
About this series
English-speaking voters ahead of the October 27th election. One party per episode. I only use the party itself has made public. Their platform, their website, their official accounts, and on-the-record statements by their leaders. If they didn't publish it, it doesn't count. And if they publish nothing, that's the episode. Likud is on the ballot under the letters Mem Hei Lamed, Machal, running as a single
Who they are
party, with Benjamin Netanyahu at the top of the list. Start with what isn't there. There's no platform document on the Likud website, on the Older Likud Movement site,
What they've published
or on Netanyahu's personal site. The last Likud platform I could find on record is from the 2009 election, and it's archived by the Israel Democracy Institute, not by the party. The document is 17 years old, so I'm not using it for this episode. Here's what does exist. The Likud website is one long page in Hebrew. It has a section called, quote, Our Way, Likud's Six Pillars, end quote, which is six short paragraphs of principles. Then a big section on government achievements, with sources. Last check, September 23rd. Then the candidate list. Across the top is the campaign slogan, Yamin O'Falastin.
Right, meaning politically right, or Palestine. Most of the specific sections and positions come from Netanyahu himself. Posts on his official Telegram channel and three long interviews he posted to his own YouTube channel between late August and late September. When I quote an interview, I'll say so, because that's someone talking, not a written platform. The first pillar on the website is, quote, security without compromise, end quote, A strong IDF, decisive victory over the enemy,
Security and foreign policy
and security for every citizen. Another pillar says, United Jerusalem is Israel's capital forever, and calls for, quote, strengthening settlement and sovereignty in all parts of the land. The site doesn't define sovereignty. On a Palestinian state, Netanyahu has posted it more than once. In August, he wrote that as long as he's prime minister, no Palestinian state will be established in Gaza or in Judea and Samaria. A second post, 12 days later, says no Palestinian state, quote, controlled by Iran, end quote. In a Channel 14 interview he posted on August 30th, he said, quote, there will not be, and we will not allow, a Palestinian state. On Gaza, a post from September 2nd, says Israel controls the territory and, quote, is staying on this line, end quote, quote, and that the goal is disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza.
In an I-24 interview he posted on September 5th, he said there will be no reconstruction before demilitarization. On Iran, he posted on September 9th, quote, we are committed to defeating the terror regime in Iran, and we will do it, end quote. In the Channel 14 interview, he said Iran won't have a nuclear weapon while he is prime minister. On Lebanon, a post says Israel will keep destroying terror infrastructure in what is called the security zone. On the West Bank, a Likud statement in August talks about continuing, quote, the historic momentum, end quote, in settlement in Judea and Samaria. In the Channel 14 interview, he also said he's determined to stop settlers who go into Palestinian villages, saying, quote, that's not your job.
On foreign relations, the site pillar is, quote, expanding the circle of peace, end quote, and strategic alliances. In a late September post, he wrote what he invited, that he invited the presidents of Paraguay, Panama, and Bolivia to join what he calls the Isaac Accords, and called on them to join an American initiative to withdraw from what he called, quote, the corrupt international court, end quote. Nothing on the website about a state commission of inquiry. In the Channel 14 interview, Netanyahu said,
October 7 accountability
quote, we believe there should be a national commission of inquiry, which he called, quote, equal, half opposition, half coalition. The economy pillar says, free market, less regulation, more competition.
Economy and cost of living
In a conversation with Oren Dobronsky, posted to Netanyahu's YouTube channel on September 23rd, he said he's committed to breaking the remaining monopolies to lower prices, including food and pharmaceuticals. He also said, quote, I now commit, end quote, to appointing a new head of the competition authority. And he said the free market policy means keeping taxes low. The site mentions investing in housing in the periphery with no details. The concrete item around housing is for
Housing
reserve soldiers. An August 9th post announces about 20,000 apartments or plots on preferred terms in 2026 and 2027 and raises the reserve's share in the government's, quote, discounted apartment, end quote, lotteries from half to three quarters. It also offers reservists free land value on plots in top priority areas, not counting development costs. That was announced as a government program. On Haredi Military Service, the website's achievement sections reports a rise in Haredi enlistment and says the mission
Religion and state
continues to widen the circle of those who serve and ease the burden on those who carry it. In the Channel 14 interview, Netanyahu said the draft law failed because there were mistakes and that it should be handled differently. He said whoever does not study Torah should enlist. And whoever says we will die rather than enlist should go straight to prison. I couldn't find a stated position on Shabbat, marriage, conversion, or religious funding. Nothing on the website around the judiciary. In the Channel 14 interview, Netanyahu said
Judiciary and governance
checks and balances between the branches have shifted to the unelected judiciary and that balance must be restored. On judicial selection, he said a reform, quote, has already started and is supposed to take effect in the new government. He did not give details. The education pillar is, quote, education for excellence and love the land, end quote, connection to Jewish heritage and pride in a
Education
Jewish and democratic state. In the Dobronsky conversation, he said that he wants AI education to start in the first grade and eventually in kindergarten. The site mentions investment in health in the periphery. In an August post from Ariel, Netanyahu
Health
wrote, quote, we established a university here in Ariel. We will build a hospital here. The site mentions a investment in health in the periphery, as I mentioned, but nothing more. I couldn't find a public position on pensions, the elderly, or on welfare allowances.
Welfare, Arab citizens
In July, Netanyahu posted about a plan against crime in Arab society that he says the government's approved. The shinbet joins the police, about half a billion shekels, and new units against arms trafficking and crime organizations. In the Channel 14 interview, he said, quote, this is the nation state of the Jewish people. There are rights for others, but first of all, it is our nation state, end quote. Asked in a same interview about Arab building in the Negev and the Galilee, he said he set up a team to bring farms into the Negev and Galilee, with preference for reservists. I couldn't find a published position on immigration or the diaspora. The site mentions the topic of infrastructure.
Immigration, Environment
The site mentions the topic of infrastructure. In the Dobronsky conversation, he talks about gas and repeated a suggestion he says comes from Elon Musk to cover part of the Negev with solar panels, but he didn't present it as a plan. I couldn't find a published position on climate or on transportation. Two things. The slogan, right or Palestine, on the site and in his posts.
What they put front and center
And one more policy from a September 16th post. We will revoke the citizenship of anyone who defames IDF soldiers around the world. The post doesn't say how that would work. He also said in the Dobronsky conversation that his goal is for Israel to become the third AI power within five years, after the United States and China. Likud has no platform for this election. There's no published position on pensions and the elderly, immigration, the diaspora,
What's missing
climate, transportation, Shabbat, marriage, or conversion. On the courts and on the question of accountability for October 7th, what exists comes from interviews, not from anything the party has written down. That's what Likud has put into writing as of this recording. Every source I use is linked in the description, most of them in Hebrew. So you can read them yourself. If they publish more before the election, I'll do my best to put an update in the comments. Next is list number 30, blue and white. And the full playlist is linked below. The Close Read is free to watch and to listen. And if you'd like to support it, you'll find me on Patreon at patreon.com slash thecloseread, linked in the description.
