Netanyahu Rejects Party Primaries as Israeli Political Landscape Shifts

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly expresses disdain for the Likud party primaries, viewing them as a hollow exercise rather than a genuine democratic process. While candidates celebrate the primaries as a democratic festivity, Netanyahu and insiders see it as a superficial event leading to political disappointment and unemployment for many hopefuls. Over the years, Israeli parties have experimented with various candidate selection methods, including party centers, committees, spiritual leaders, and primaries, but each method eventually became corrupted or ineffective.

The article highlights the Labor-Meretz alliance's primaries, where Yair Golan secured the right to place two candidates of his choice in the top ten, fearing an overly radical list. He promised Einav Tsengauer a spot but later reneged, damaging his credibility and that of his party. This breach of trust is significant in the contest between Golan and Benny Gantz supporters.

Within Likud, Netanyahu’s current term has seen the party transform from a traditional political organization into a family-like entity dominated by figures such as Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Aryeh Deri, and Yossi Goldknopf. These individuals, often seen as controversial or extreme, replaced the party’s previous secular and nationalist character. The party’s membership base has also shifted, with many new members aligning ideologically closer to religious and far-right factions, reflecting demographic changes and opportunistic registrations.

Netanyahu reportedly avoids primaries because he lacks appealing candidates to offer voters beyond his core supporters, who consistently back him regardless. His parliamentary and government representatives, including figures like Miki Zohar and Shlomo Karhi, alienate other voters. The article suggests Netanyahu’s political dominance has created a monolithic right-wing bloc where only he is seen as viable, while other candidates are viewed as unworthy or unattractive.

Ultimately, the piece argues that the current political reality in Israel is dominated by Netanyahu’s personal influence, with the opposition’s main unifying factor being opposition to him rather than a coherent alternative. The upcoming primaries and elections will reveal whether this dynamic persists or shifts.