Netanyahu Faces Internal Revolt as Likud Prepares for Upcoming Primaries

Following the October 7 events, many Likud members and ministers have openly expressed that Benjamin Netanyahu should step down as party leader. Despite Netanyahu's fondness for flattery, he reportedly despises sycophants and has been attempting to sideline numerous current Likud Knesset members, replacing them with new candidates he favors. Currently, 31 members are registered in the Likud parliamentary group, but Netanyahu would prefer to release most of them from the party list for the next election cycle.

Several Likud politicians have privately criticized Netanyahu, with some even promising bereaved families affected by recent conflicts that they will work to replace him. However, those who once opposed Netanyahu have ironically become his most devoted flatterers. This dynamic reflects a broader crisis within the party, highlighted by a recent embarrassing incident where eight Likud MKs initially supported State Comptroller Yosef Elron but then reversed their votes under pressure.

The upcoming Likud primaries are seen as a critical moment for reshaping the party's candidate list. Netanyahu is reportedly trying to sideline autonomous and independent-minded candidates, aiming to control the party's composition tightly. There is talk of forming a steering committee led by local government leaders such as Haim Bibas and several successful mayors to influence the candidate list. Some suggest that if Netanyahu had the courage, he might step aside and allow Bibas and other prominent mayors to lead the party's list.

Public dissatisfaction extends beyond internal politics, with taxi drivers and peripheral communities expressing frustration with figures like Miri Regev and the handling of security agencies. The article also references a recent Shin Bet leak investigation and criticizes the military and security establishment's communication strategies. As the primaries approach, opposition voices encourage continued pressure on Netanyahu, hoping to see significant change in Likud's leadership and electoral prospects.