Dan Illouz Reveals One-Third of Likud Tried to Oust Netanyahu After October War

A day after announcing he will not run in the upcoming Likud primaries, Knesset member Dan Illouz disclosed unprecedented details about internal turmoil within the ruling party following the outbreak of the war on October 7. In an interview on ynet's political podcast, Illouz revealed that weeks after the October 7 failure, about one-third of Likud lawmakers organized a move to initiate a vote of no confidence and remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from office.

According to Illouz, the attempt nearly succeeded but ultimately collapsed due to internal power struggles and ego clashes among the conspirators. The key obstacle was the inability of the involved MKs to agree on a consensus candidate to replace Netanyahu, which led to the initiative's failure. Illouz explained that the gravity of the October 7 events created a mood within the party that leadership change was necessary, stating, "When something like October 7 happens, a country that wants to live cannot continue as usual."

Illouz's revelations come amid his recent announcement that he will not seek re-election on the Likud list. He sharply criticized the party's current leadership and direction, claiming Likud has lost its original ideological path. He argued that the party no longer represents the liberal and nationalist values he was raised with but has been "hijacked" by ultra-Orthodox factions and their agenda. Illouz condemned the party's concessions on issues like military conscription and budget allocations, accusing it of enabling "avoidance schemes" while reservists struggle, leaving him unable to endorse the party to voters.

This disclosure highlights significant internal dissent within Likud following the war and signals ongoing ideological and strategic conflicts ahead of the next elections.