Netanyahu rose through Likud democracy. Now he risks hollowing it out from within - analysis
Netanyahu wants the ability to add people from high-tech, economics, security, and other fields who can broaden the party’s appeal and give it greater governing credibility. The problem is the scale.
Benjamin Netanyahu, once a product of Likud's democratic primary system, now risks undermining that very foundation in his pursuit of power. The primary for the upcoming elections has turned into a chaotic battle, with Netanyahu wielding an unprecedented level of influence over the party's top positions.
Currently, Netanyahu holds sway over 11 of the 29 most crucial spots on the party's Knesset slate, despite Likud only holding 32 seats. This dominance puts a significant number of current Likud MKs at risk of losing their parliamentary positions. The bitterness arising from this zero-sum game has spilled into the public domain, further fracturing the party.
Netanyahu's personal selection, Oren Dobronsky, has been seen as a move to undercut Nir Barkat, a former potential successor. Some reports even suggest Barkat and Yuli Edelstein, a former Likud member who now leads a new party, were behind an unsuccessful attempt to replace Netanyahu after October 7. Edelstein allegedly proposed becoming interim Prime Minister, followed by a Likud leadership primary in which he would not run.
This situation highlights a larger issue facing Likud: how to ensure its primary produces a list appealing to a broader audience. Unlike other Israeli parties, Likud prides itself on allowing members to choose Knesset candidates, a key part of its identity. However, the primary system has exposed a downside - it often favors candidates with strong media presence and provocative statements over those with legislative expertise or records of effective committee work.
Netanyahu's effort to maintain control over the primary system contradicts his desire for a list that can attract voters beyond the Likud faithful. He reportedly wants to add people from fields like hi-tech and economics to broaden the party's appeal and increase its governing credibility. However, the scale of these "corrections" to the primary system risks undermining the primary itself.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
