Netanyahu Hints at Successor but Keeps Name and Timeline Private

In a recent interview on the podcast “In Sharon’s Living Room,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at having a potential successor to whom he is willing to "hand over the keys" to the country. However, Netanyahu declined to reveal the identity of this individual or provide a timeline for such a transition.

Sources close to the matter clarified that Netanyahu himself has not issued any direct threats but noted that his associates have conveyed messages to senior Likud officials suggesting that if his proposal fails in a secret vote at the party conference, he might consider resigning along with a majority of the Likud faction. While Netanyahu cannot take the party name "Likud," which belongs to the party itself, a mass departure could have significant implications for party funding.

Within Likud, many view the current tensions as part of internal power struggles over primary election mechanisms and reserved seats rather than a genuine intent to dissolve the party. Nonetheless, some party insiders warn that Netanyahu’s insistence on securing ten reserved seats could trigger a severe internal crisis, potentially fracturing the party. They also speculate that if Netanyahu does leave to form a separate political framework, it would cause considerable upheaval among political figures like Gadi Eizenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, and Naftali Bennett.

Despite these concerns, there is confidence that Netanyahu will avoid pushing the party to a breaking point. A recent internal Likud poll of 714 members showed that 43.43% would leave Likud to support a new list led by Netanyahu if established, while 20.04% said they would remain loyal to Likud and continue voting for the party without Netanyahu at the helm.