Likud fury over Netanyahu’s plan to scrap primary elections

Anger is mounting within Israel’s Likud party over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s apparent decision to bypass primary elections in favour of a committee-appointed candidate list. Senior party figures are backing the move, citing logistical challenges and time constraints for holding primaries in early August, but backbench MPs are warning of potential consequences. “We were left out on a limb for Netanyahu after October 7th,” one Likud member said, expressing frustration that loyalty during the security crisis may go unrewarded. “If anyone gets dropped to position 50 or 60, they have nothing left to lose,” another warned ominously. The primary system has long been a contentious issue within Likud, with ambitious politicians relying on grassroots party member votes to secure parliamentary seats. Circumventing this process through a selection committee risks alienating those who expected to compete through the traditional route. The move also comes as Defence Minister Bezalel Smotrich has demanded assurances regarding military equipment allocations, adding another layer of tension to coalition negotiations. Party insiders suggest that cancelling primaries may prove logistically necessary given the compressed timeline, but the political cost among ordinary party members and lower-ranking MPs could be significant.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.