Netanyahu Tries to Recruit Former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi to Likud

With the deadline for submitting party lists for the upcoming Knesset elections approaching, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's associates are reportedly making renewed efforts to recruit former IDF Chief of Staff and former Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi to the Likud party. According to a report by Walla!, several prominent Likud mayors have recently spoken with Ashkenazi, attempting to persuade him to join the party's Knesset list.

The strategy, as outlined by sources close to Netanyahu, is for Ashkenazi to enter the Likud through a reserved spot directly appointed by the Prime Minister, bypassing the party's primary elections. Netanyahu views Ashkenazi's potential addition as a significant boost to the Likud's roster, particularly by bringing in a well-known figure with extensive security experience, a critical asset given the current public focus on security and war issues.

This is not the first attempt to bring Ashkenazi into the Likud. During the 2022 election campaign for the 25th Knesset, an businessman close to Netanyahu reportedly offered Ashkenazi a similar path to join the party, which he declined at the time. The two have maintained contact over the years, discussing policy and security matters. Ashkenazi previously revealed that Netanyahu had offered him the position of Defense Minister in 2020.