Netanyahu Faces Repeated Rejections From Top Candidates Ahead of Tough Elections

As Israel approaches its elections on October 27, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is confronting significant challenges within his Likud party and the broader political landscape. According to Yoav Horovitz, Netanyahu's former close aide and project manager for Gadi Eizenkot's 100-day plan, Netanyahu is aware he is likely to lose to Eizenkot but refuses to concede, embodying a relentless determination to compete despite the odds.

Horovitz, who has intimate knowledge of Netanyahu's inner circle, described the current election campaign as the toughest Netanyahu has faced in years, centered around the fallout from the October 7 massacre. Despite this, the Likud has yet to launch a substantive campaign, relying instead on weak and repetitive attacks against Eizenkot and the Democratic parties. Netanyahu’s campaign is criticized for lacking a clear strategy, with attacks described as "pathetic" and ineffective.

Compounding Netanyahu's difficulties is the reluctance of prominent figures to join Likud's candidate list. Netanyahu has expressed disdain for most current Likud members and demands strong, reputable candidates to regain lost voters, particularly moderate right-wing supporters. He has sought to recruit notable figures such as Gabi Ashkenazi, Yuval Steinitz, Yossi Cohen, and Ron Dermer, but all have declined. Pressure continues on former Mossad chief Cohen and ex-minister Dermer to join, as Netanyahu aims to present a serious and experienced team.

Internal party tensions are rising, with half of Likud's current Knesset members preparing to leave after the upcoming primaries. Former members like Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein have broken away to form a new party, which threatens to siphon votes from Likud. Netanyahu is also attempting to distance himself from ultra-Orthodox factions, whose exemption policies from military service alienate many Likud voters who value the IDF highly.

The upcoming Likud primaries, scheduled for next Monday, are expected to result in the dismissal of over half the current list. Netanyahu reportedly wishes to see a near-complete overhaul of the party slate but has struggled to attract strong candidates, leaving him with a weakened and fearful group. The internal discord and lack of a robust campaign strategy underscore the precarious position Netanyahu faces as he seeks to maintain power amid a fractious political environment and ongoing security crises.