World Zionist Organization chairman Yaakov Hagoel scored a sweeping victory in Tuesday night’s elections to the Likud Central Committee, securing more than 20 percent of the ballots cast in Israel and, once overseas votes were counted, the highest overall share of support ahead of the party’s August conference, his campaign said in a statement.
Hagoel’s slate out-polled those backed by four senior figures in the governing coalition — Culture and Sport Minister Miki Zohar, Tourism Minister Haim Katz, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Likud MK David Bitan — ensuring he will remain the dominant power in World Likud, the movement’s international arm.
“We have won and achieved an extraordinary result against four serving ministers,” Hagoel said, thanking “the hundreds of Likud Central Committee members who voted for me and our list, expressing their confidence in our path, our values and our Zionist mission.”
— campaign statement
Hagoel’s triumph comes five months after the same ministers tried to push a constitutional amendment that would have slashed the voting power of Likud activists abroad from 50 percent to just 20 percent. Calling the move “absurd,” Hagoel argued that the State of Israel has long relied on the political and financial backing of Diaspora Jews — support that topped $1 billion after the October 7 war — and campaigned to keep the 50-50 balance intact. The proposal was defeated, and Tuesday’s result cements that parity for the next party term, his camp said.
What does it mean for August?
The Central Committee elected this week will set the agenda for the Likud Conference due in August, where delegates are expected to debate internal reforms and the party’s strategy for the next national election cycle. With Hagoel’s faction now the largest single bloc, analysts said he is likely to wield significant influence over any attempt to rewrite the party constitution or its stance on Diaspora affairs.
Hagoel, 53, has chaired the WZO since 2020 and previously served as acting chairman of the Jewish Agency. A longtime Likud activist, he is also head of World Likud, giving him a formal role in mobilizing party supporters across some 40 count
For Hagoel, however, the message was clear: “Together with Likud representatives from around the world,” he said, “we will continue to lead World Likud.”