Who they are
David Hai Bitan was born in 1960 and is a lawyer by profession. He chaired the Likud branch in Rishon LeZion and sat on the city council from 1988, serving as deputy mayor. He entered the Knesset in 2015 and was coalition chairman in 2016 and 2017. He was indicted in 2021 on bribery, fraud, money laundering and tax counts over his years as deputy mayor, denies all of them, and no verdict has been published.
Positions and record
Reserved slots: Fought to cap the leader's reserved slots and keep district winners in realistic places.
Party primaries: Opposes replacing Likud primaries with an appointed selection committee.
Public broadcasting: Refused to let a special committee bypass his own committee on broadcast bills.
Where they stand
Holds the party line on every issue.
Judea & Samariaparty linePro-settlement, no Palestinian state; annexation deferred
Two states / withdrawalSovereignty / annexation
Gaza & Securityparty lineBacks the Trump plan on Israel's terms: disarm Hamas first
Deal & disengagementFull military control
Haredi Enlistmentparty lineNegotiated arrangement with Haredi allies
Universal draftPreserve exemptions
Judiciaryparty lineAdvance override and appointments reform
Court can strike lawsKnesset can override
Economyparty lineFree-market in name; raised VAT, grew coalition funds
Social spendingFree market
Educationparty lineWants the core-studies rule kept, but never used to cut funding
State runs the schoolsParents and communities
Religion & Stateparty lineStatus quo with religious partners
Civil / pluralistReligious authority
Nation & Citizenshipparty lineNation-State Law, Jewish self-determination only
Equal citizenshipJewish national state