Netanyahu fears Edelstein: Likud reveals the former political partner they tried to 'crown' in his place

Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, MK Nissim Vaturi from Likud, addressed today (Sunday) in a conversation with Gadi Ness on Radio North 104.5FM the claims regarding attempts to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from within the party, and among other things, the claims concerning Minister Nir Barkat.

"There were attempts in the past to topple Netanyahu, but not within Likud. I did hear in the past from members of Likud," said Vaturi. According to him, there were more significant moves in the past: "There were bigger stories, like the attempt to crown Avigdor Lieberman in Likud during the term."

These things are said against the backdrop of preparations in Likud for the primaries and the fear in Netanyahu's circle of the day after. At the end of the week, it was published in "Maariv" that in the Prime Minister's circle, they are trying to reduce in advance the risk that incumbent MKs who are pushed to unrealistic spots on the list will become a focus of political organization against him.

The fear: MKs who lose will become a focus of organization

Against this backdrop, Netanyahu is holding personal conversations with MKs, intended, among other things, to understand what occupies them and what they intend to do in case they are not elected to a realistic spot.

According to sources in Likud, Netanyahu does not want to reach a situation where his first conversation with an MK who lost in the primaries takes place only after the results are known. The assessment in his circle is that after a personal conversation has already taken place, it will be easier for him to return to those who are not elected, hear how they intend to act, and examine what steps can be taken regarding them.

Behind the conversations also lies a clear political fear: that MKs who lose in the primaries, remain outside the list, and feel they have been harmed, will become a target for attempts to recruit them for a move against Netanyahu even before the elections — including the possibility of a constructive vote of no confidence.

Those MKs will continue to serve in the outgoing Knesset until the elections, even after they know they were not placed in a realistic spot on the Likud list. This possibility comes up in internal conversations in the Prime Minister's circle, but for now, there is no indication that an organized move is already taking shape. In these conversations, the name of Yuli Edelstein also came up as an example of a figure around whom MKs might organize in such a scenario. According to sources familiar with the details, Edelstein does not intend at this stage to resign from the Knesset — a fact that increases the fear in the Prime Minister's circle that he may become a figure around whom an initiative for a constructive vote of no confidence will be organized.

Erdan is also in the background

Alongside this, sources in Likud are also following the developments around Gilad Erdan's "Unity" party. According to a "Maariv" poll, conducted in the last week by the "Agam" institute, 14% of Likud voters answered that there is a high probability that they will vote for Erdan's party.

Sources familiar with the details say that in Erdan's circle, they are examining the inquiries that reach them. However, it was clarified to those interested that whoever joins the party will be required to commit to its basic principles, including refraining from sitting in a narrow government, promoting significant conscription of ultra-Orthodox into the IDF, and national service for Arabs.

From the "Unity" party, it was stated in response: "We will not comment on things said in closed conversations."