Netanyahu Holds Private Talks with Likud MKs Amid Fears of Primary Backlash

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is conducting an unusual series of private, one-on-one talks with all sitting Likud Knesset members ahead of the party's upcoming primaries. These discussions focus on the MKs' current activities, regional concerns, and their political needs. The talks do not include new primary candidates but are aimed at sitting MKs, reflecting Netanyahu's awareness of the intense competition for limited spots on the party list.

Sources indicate that Netanyahu and his team are concerned that many incumbent MKs may be pushed out due to the crowded field, the number of ministers and MKs running, and the limited slots allocated to regional districts and reserved positions. The decision to bar current and former MKs from running in regional districts has further tightened the competition for places on the national list.

There is apprehension within Netanyahu's circle that displaced MKs might retaliate by supporting a constructive no-confidence motion against the government or by leveraging their influence to block the approval of reserved slots on the list. This internal tension adds to the political storm brewing within Likud as the primaries approach.