Yair Netanyahu Urges Likud Members Not to Support David Bitan in Primary Clash

Following a public dispute between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Likud member David Bitan, Yair Netanyahu has called on party members not to vote for Bitan or his close associates in the upcoming Likud primaries. Yair expressed his support for Asnat Zohar as a new female candidate and urged voters to avoid supporting Keren Atias Bublil, whom he linked to Bitan. He also criticized Bitan for demanding reserved spots on the party list, questioning why Netanyahu, as the top candidate, would need to bring in reserved candidates if he could secure votes on his own.

David Bitan responded by attacking Likud Central Committee Chairman Haim Katz, accusing him of creating a faction within Likud through a political deal with the Prime Minister that harms the party. Bitan explained that out of eight reserved spots he requested, some are promised to other politicians like Gideon Sa'ar, Bezalel Smotrich, and possibly Itamar Ben-Gvir, as part of coalition arrangements. He argued that these reserved spots do not strengthen the list and criticized the inclusion of members from other parties, emphasizing that Likud should prioritize its own party interests before coalition considerations.

This internal conflict highlights ongoing tensions within Likud ahead of the primaries, with Yair Netanyahu actively campaigning against Bitan and his allies. The dispute reflects broader struggles over candidate selection and party strategy as Likud prepares for future elections.