Likud MK Amit Halevi Warns Turkey and Iran Aim to Topple Right-Wing Government

Likud Member of Knesset Amit Halevi spoke on 103fm on Tuesday about the party's primary elections and foreign interference in Israel's political process. Halevi praised the Likud primaries as a model of Israeli democracy, contrasting them with other parties he described as "dictatorships of one person." He explained that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested reserved slots on the party list to include candidates representing the movement's values and to refresh the party's lineup amid current circumstances.

Addressing reports of foreign meddling, Halevi accused Turkey, Iran, and other unnamed actors of attempting to overthrow the right-wing government. His remarks come amid internal Likud disputes over the party list selection method. After lengthy debates, the Likud Constitution Committee approved a compromise plan by Minister Haim Katz, allowing primaries alongside eight reserved realistic slots for Netanyahu on the list.

This arrangement has drawn criticism from some party members who argue that the number of reserved slots is unusually high and could undermine the influence of party members and incumbent MKs. The internal tensions highlight the challenges Likud faces ahead of the upcoming elections.