Netanyahu’s Dream Team Crumbles as Security Brass and October 7 Heroes Reject Likud Offers

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ambitious recruitment drive has suffered a dramatic collapse, with prominent military figures and celebrated October 7th heroes refusing attractive parliamentary positions offered by his Likud party. The rejections represent a significant setback for Netanyahu’s strategy to bolster his coalition with high-profile names from Israel’s security establishment and those celebrated for their roles during last year’s Hamas attacks. Multiple senior defence officials have turned down lucrative Knesset seats that would normally be considered prestigious appointments, signalling a reluctance among Israel’s military and security elite to enter Netanyahu’s political sphere.
The recruitment initiative, which had been designed to inject star power and credibility into Likud’s parliamentary ranks, now appears to be stalled entirely. Sources close to the matter indicate that the refusals have been categorical and final, leaving Netanyahu’s team scrambling to develop alternative strategies. The failed outreach effort underscores mounting tension between elements of Israel’s security apparatus and the prime minister’s government.
All attention now turns to one senior general who has been identified as Netanyahu’s remaining hope for securing a high-profile recruit. This unnamed military figure represents the last significant opportunity for the prime minister to salvage his celebrity recruitment project and demonstrate that the security establishment still views his coalition as a viable political home. The outcome of this final overture could prove symbolically important for Netanyahu as he navigates questions about his government’s unity and broad institutional support.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.