Netanyahu Praises Asnat Zohar Amid Conflicting Support Reports in Likud Primaries

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly praised Asnat Zohar Zani, a candidate in the Likud party primaries, expressing his desire to see her continue her political work in the Knesset. This statement came after reports surfaced that Netanyahu had decided to support Dr. Ruth Kabsa Avramzon for the new women's slot in the party list. Netanyahu wrote, "Asnat Zohar has worked for years for Likud and for me. I would be very happy to see her continue her activity also in the Knesset."

The conflicting signals caused confusion among Likud activists, who questioned why Netanyahu's support for Kabsa was not openly publicized as it was for other candidates. Zohar herself denied reports that she was offered a position in exchange for withdrawing from the race, calling such claims "complete fake news" aimed at damaging her campaign. She affirmed her intention to continue running, stating, "I don't care about jobs. I don't need any position. I want to influence and act in the Knesset for you and for our children, in our country." She urged Likud members to vote and help change the party for the country's sake.

Netanyahu also commented generally on the primaries, stating he would vote for a winning list that would prevent a narrow government coalition with Arab parties, as promised by Benny Gantz and Yair Golan. He emphasized that he does not interfere in the selection of the national list and trusts Likud members to choose wisely. "I wish everyone success," he added.

The developments highlight internal dynamics and tensions within Likud ahead of the upcoming elections, with Netanyahu balancing endorsements and maintaining a hands-off approach to the party's candidate selection process.