Businessman Claims Internal Likud Anger Over Netanyahu's Candidate Choices

Businessman Roni Mana, formerly close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and now a sharp critic, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, alleging significant tension within the Likud party. Mana claims that Knesset members and activists are angry with Netanyahu, particularly over his decision to include "armored" candidates in the Likud list, whom Mana asserts have not brought in any votes and are not connected to the party. He stated that Netanyahu's inner circle is trying to mobilize party members and Knesset members to bring voters to the polls, but many are not responding, directing Netanyahu's staff to contact the "last armored candidates" he brought into Likud. Mana also asserted that Jerusalem-based Likud members are furious, feeling Netanyahu betrayed those who supported him for four years. He concluded by claiming, "Bibi knows that many Likud members are not going to vote." This statement follows previous accusations by Mana, who claimed earlier on Monday that the Netanyahu family was attempting to disrupt the elections by spreading false messages and publishing fake polls, urging support for Liberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party. Last week, Mana alleged that the Prime Minister's circle was in a state of "hysteria," with Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu trying to rally party activists, stating that Netanyahu appeared agitated as he saw no improvement in the polls.