In an attempt to calm the turmoil within Likud ahead of the primaries, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met in recent days—and is expected to meet in coming days—with several of the party’s Knesset members, including Hanoch Milwidsky, Shalom Danino, and Eliyahu Revivo.
1+During the meetings, Netanyahu is exploring the possibility of offering the lawmakers a range of positions, including ambassadorships, with the goal of getting them not to run in the upcoming primaries. Such a move could reduce the number of candidates and free up spots on the list for other MKs who fear they’ll be pushed to unrealistic positions and won’t make it into the next Knesset. Likud chose not to comment.
In practice, there are 19 sitting MKs or ministers who won’t be able to secure spots in the top 30 positions on the Likud list. Their only consolation is that if Likud is in power after the election, MKs who are appointed ministers can resign from the Knesset under the Norwegian Law and make room for additional candidates from the national list who would enter at spots 32, 33, 35, 38, 39, and 40. That still leaves about 13 MKs or ministers out of the game even if Likud is in power after the election.
1+This explains the enormous pressure candidates are feeling today ahead of next week’s primaries and the fierce competition that Netanyahu is forcing through the system he approved at the convention and the many reserved spots—sparking massive criticism within Likud and deep frustration among those who would be willing to do almost anything to secure one of the few realistic spots that remain.
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