Bennet and Edelstein Meet Amid Efforts to Oust Netanyahu, But Fail to Unite

New details have emerged about internal negotiations within the Likud party following the events of October 7, revealing that Nir Barkat and Yuli Edelstein met in an attempt to coordinate a move to depose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite their meeting, the two were unable to form a joint strategy, primarily due to Barkat's ambition to become the permanent prime minister and lead the government himself.

Earlier reports indicated that both Barkat and Edelstein were separately trying to gather support from Knesset members to enable a no-confidence motion against Netanyahu. Barkat aimed to spearhead this effort, while Edelstein was conducting parallel talks. The newly disclosed meeting between them highlighted the key obstacle: disagreement over who would lead the government if Netanyahu were removed.

Barkat recently commented on Netanyahu's extended tenure, stating on the podcast "Kikar FM with Eli Guthelf" that "what is not done in two terms is not done in three or four," expressing support for term limits and lamenting the political system's dependence on irreplaceable figures. This statement aligns with the political maneuvering after October 7, when Barkat saw himself as a potential leader of the right-wing and the government in the coming years.

A spokesperson for Nir Barkat's office clarified that the meeting with Edelstein was not intended as part of a plot to oust Netanyahu. The developments shed light on the internal Likud dynamics and the challenges facing any attempt to unseat the long-serving prime minister.