Netanyahu Fears Post-Election Coup Amidst Declining Likud Polls

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly concerned about a potential internal "coup" or challenge to his leadership within the Likud party if the party's performance in the upcoming October 27th elections falls short of expectations. Recent polls show the Likud party polling between 20 and 21 seats, a significant drop from the 32 seats it secured in the November 2022 elections. Netanyahu has acknowledged losing "more than ten seats" since the last election with no clear path to regaining them.

This fear stems from past attempts to oust him. Following the October 7th Hamas attack, a group of Likud lawmakers and ministers reportedly initiated a move to replace Netanyahu. He has since taken steps to neutralize potential opposition within the party, including strategically placing rivals like Nir Barkat and Yuli Edelstein in less favorable positions on the Likud's electoral list. Edelstein has since ended his political career, and Barkat is unlikely to be re-elected.

Despite these maneuvers, a source within the Likud warned that if Netanyahu fails to win the election and leads the party into opposition, a "very large war" will erupt against him from within the party. The source criticized Netanyahu's treatment of loyalists, stating that many who defended him and his wife were "thrown to the dogs" after the elections.

The article also details the placement of several new candidates, often referred to as "protected seats" or "reserved spots," on the Likud list. These include bereaved parents, individuals injured in Gaza, and media personalities known for their staunch support of Netanyahu, such as Yaakov Bardugo. Some of these candidates, like Eli Goldschmidt, have previously been critical of Netanyahu. Netanyahu reportedly plans to use an expanded "Norwegian Law" to bring these candidates into the Knesset if he wins and forms a coalition.

Netanyahu had aimed to attract more prominent figures like former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and former minister Gabi Ashkenazi to the list to project an image of strength, but these efforts were unsuccessful. With the elections just over a month away, following major Jewish holidays, the political landscape remains tense, with the upcoming vote described as "the most fateful elections."