MK Dan Illouz Says One-Third of Likud Wanted to Replace Netanyahu After October 7 Attack

Member of Knesset Dan Illouz, who recently announced his departure from the Likud party, revealed in an interview with ynet's podcast "120 and One" that following the October 7 attack, a significant portion of Likud members believed the country's leadership should be changed during the ongoing war. Illouz explained that this leadership change should have occurred through a vote of no confidence rather than elections, given the intense conflict at the time.

He stated, "When something like October 7 happens, a country that wants to survive cannot continue as usual. This should also be reflected in the leadership, which needs to be replaced." Illouz emphasized that this perspective was widely accepted among many Likud members during that period. He further noted that some colleagues who now publicly show strong support for Netanyahu were then actively discussing how to replace him.

According to Illouz, at least one-third of the Likud faction believed that replacing the leadership was the right move for Israel, but it had to be done through a no-confidence vote amid the intense war rather than through elections.