Netanyahu strips Likud of democratic choice to purge rivals

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has moved to remove the democratic voting rights of Likud party members, consolidating his control over candidate selection for the party list. The controversial step effectively allows Netanyahu to determine which sitting members remain in positions of power and which are excluded, bypassing the traditional internal party ballots that have long defined Likud’s candidacy process.

The decision targets politicians who have served Netanyahu’s interests until now but have outlived their usefulness to him. By controlling the nomination process directly, Netanyahu can remove potential challengers or those who have fallen out of favour without facing internal party resistance. The move represents a significant centralisation of power within Israel’s largest right-wing party.

The manoeuvre has drawn sharp criticism from within Likud itself, with party members arguing that stripping them of voting rights undermines basic democratic principles. Traditionally, Likud members have voted on the party’s electoral list, giving rank-and-file activists a voice in determining their representatives. Netanyahu’s approach effectively sidelines this mechanism, replacing it with top-down decision-making that concentrates authority in his hands.

The shift reflects Netanyahu’s broader strategy to consolidate his political position as he faces ongoing pressures both within his coalition and from his opponents. By ensuring that the Likud list contains only loyalists, Netanyahu reduces the risk of internal dissent that could complicate his leadership or legislative agenda. The move signals that loyalty to Netanyahu personally, rather than party affiliation, has become the primary criterion for political survival within Likud.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.