Netanyahu May Use Party Rules to Oust Nir Barkat from Likud's Final Knesset Slot
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
With 98% of Likud primary votes counted, Nir Barkat narrowly leads Ze'ev Elkin for the last viable Knesset slot, but Netanyahu may use party rules to replace Barkat with a New Hope candidate, potentially ending Barkat's Knesset career.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Nir Barkat narrowly leads Ze'ev Elkin for Likud's 24th Knesset slot after 98% vote count.
- Barkat's position is threatened by possible party rule manipulation by Netanyahu.
- Netanyahu previously used party rules in 2009 to remove Moshe Feiglin from a winnable slot.
- Netanyahu may reserve the 24th slot for New Hope's Michal Buskila, pushing Barkat to 32nd place.
- The 32nd spot is considered unelectable, likely excluding Barkat from the next Knesset.
- The final outcome depends on vote count completion and potential internal party decisions.
As the Likud primary vote count nears completion with 98% tallied, a tense battle unfolds over the party's last realistic Knesset slot. Former Jerusalem mayor and current Economy Minister Nir Barkat, once a top Likud contender, is plummeting into the third tier of the list. Barkat is narrowly leading over Ze'ev Elkin by only a few hundred votes for the 24th spot, the final viable position for entering the next Knesset.
Despite this close race, Barkat's true threat may not come from the vote count but from internal party maneuvers. Historically, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demonstrated flexibility with Likud's rules to sideline candidates he views as problematic. In 2009, Netanyahu reinterpreted party regulations to remove Moshe Feiglin from a winnable slot despite his electoral success.
Now, a similar scenario could unfold targeting Barkat. Netanyahu could strategically reserve the 24th slot for Michal Buskila, a member of Gideon Sa'ar's "New Hope" party, effectively pushing Barkat down to 32nd place. This position is considered unelectable, likely ending Barkat's Knesset career. Such a move would bypass the primary results and create a dramatic political shift within the Likud list.
The final outcome remains uncertain as the vote count concludes, but Barkat's political survival appears increasingly precarious amid these internal power plays. Netanyahu's potential intervention underscores the ongoing struggle for influence within the party ahead of the upcoming elections.
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