Netanyahu Holds Urgent Talks Amid Fears of Leadership Change Before Elections

Tensions are rising within Israel's ruling Likud party as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has conducted an extensive series of personal meetings with current Likud Knesset members over the past two days. According to reports from Maariv, this move comes amid growing concerns that many sitting lawmakers may lose their realistic spots on the party's candidate list for the upcoming elections due to intense competition at the top.

The internal fear centers on a potential constructive no-confidence vote against Netanyahu. Political insiders understand that Knesset members who lose in the primaries and are relegated to non-viable list positions may feel alienated and become targets for opposition forces aiming to recruit them against the prime minister even before the elections. This scenario is complicated by the fact that these lawmakers will continue to serve in the outgoing Knesset until the elections, despite knowing their political careers within Likud may be ending.

While this possibility is openly discussed within Netanyahu's circle, party sources emphasize that there is currently no indication of an organized effort underway to challenge the prime minister's leadership. The heightened alert reflects the party's struggle to manage internal rivalries and maintain unity ahead of the vote.