"It's time for a new leader": Closed-door discussions in Likud about the "day after" Netanyahu

The recent reports about the attempt to oust him, which, according to the claim, was led by Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat in the months following October 7, have so far exposed mainly the arena between Knesset members and ministers: Barkat himself, the contacts with Yuli Edelstein, the consultations with advisors and confidants, and the attempt - which, according to Barkat, "never happened" - to form a coalition that would oust Netanyahu and put someone else in his place.

However, correspondence that reached "Maariv" from the closed WhatsApp group "The National Headquarters in Likud" shows that this restlessness did not stop with the Knesset members - it also trickled down to the ranks of the party center and the veteran activists of Likud. In a long post shared in the group, Hagai Stern, a veteran Likud activist and member of the center for about 20 years, wrote that Netanyahu was indeed a "prime minister with many merits," but under his responsibility and on his watch the great failure of October 7 occurred, and therefore he should have vacated his place.

Stern, who emphasized that he supported Netanyahu in every primary and every election campaign until now, wrote that precisely because of this he believes that now a new leader is required from within Likud who will run against him. The post was also shared by Hagai's father, Shevach Stern. Stern is a former MK on behalf of Likud and a member of the party's election committee and constitution committee, who added that he agrees with every word his son wrote and recommends that all Likud members read and internalize: "I wish someone in Likud who sees themselves as worthy to lead would pick up the gauntlet."

These things were written ahead of the elections for the leadership of Likud and its candidate for prime minister, last November, and are revealed here for the first time. As recalled, Benjamin Netanyahu was the only one who submitted a candidacy for the party leadership and therefore was elected automatically.

The post sparked a heated debate within the group. Gideon, another activist, wrote that: "I would have agreed with Hagai Stern if we were not in the midst of an incessant and unrestrained attack against the prime minister." Stern replied that he chose Netanyahu again and again, but wondered if the fact that an injustice was done to Netanyahu in the past justifies continuing to choose him even after the failure that led to the death of hundreds of citizens. When he wondered what the purpose of the elections for the movement's leadership is if it is "forbidden to run" against Netanyahu, he was answered that it is allowed, "but don't be surprised that you will have opponents." This confrontation, between a veteran activist demanding accountability, together with the joining of Stern the father who is involved in the most sensitive decision-making within the party's mechanisms, and another activist who defends Netanyahu without reservation, illustrates how much the question of the "day after Netanyahu" is not the exclusive domain of Knesset members - it is also dividing the management level of Likud.

"Gold candidates" and "silver candidates"

Simultaneously with the ideological debate, it appears that the National Headquarters in Likud, led by Shevach Stern and Yishai Merling (who was appointed head of the Settlement Division on behalf of Smotrich), and contains according to reports about 4,000 members, has already prepared its own list of candidates ahead of the upcoming primaries. In a chart distributed in the party groups, under the title "Gold candidates" and "Silver candidates," a long list of familiar names appears - among them Yariv Levin, Amir Ohana, Miri Regev, Yoav Kisch, Shlomo Karhi, Amichai Chikli, Gila Gamliel, Nir Barkat, Avi Dichter and others.

It is striking that at least two of the names on the list - Yariv Levin and Amir Ohana - were mentioned in the past as those who might be the leading candidates to inherit Netanyahu "on the day after," so the chart may reflect not only technical support but also positioning ahead of a future succession race.

The cumulative picture paints a broader picture than the one that has emerged so far: not only did Barkat and Edelstein look for a way to replace Netanyahu following the October 7 massacre, but also members of the center and veteran activists, people who accompanied Netanyahu for decades and supported him in every primary, reached a similar conclusion. It is to be assumed that Netanyahu himself was not blind to this agitation, not only among the ministers but also in the base of the movement.

It is possible that precisely the awareness of this restlessness on both levels together is what drove him to try to engineer with exceptional care the Likud list for the next Knesset: whether through the possibility of a arranging committee that remained on the table until the last moment, or through an exceptionally high number of reserved spots - a move intended, apparently, to push aside those who might pose a political danger, both in the Knesset and in the party center, and to fortify his own position.

Shevach Stern stated in response: "Indeed, and more than that - I wrote a post in the spirit of these things even before my son, Hagai, when it seemed to me that Netanyahu was going to give up on the victory in Gaza, in order to reach a very problematic hostage deal. I wrote to urge Netanyahu to act for a decisive outcome, and I do not regret what I wrote. To my happiness, and with wisdom in hindsight, Netanyahu did not break under the pressures of the heads of the security establishment and President Biden, and also not from the heads of the non-statist opposition, understood the historical situation in which he is, and acted in the most energetic and correct way for a decisive outcome and victory. I do not know if there was a shred of contribution to what I challenged him about his moves, but if so, then I am proud of it. If not - also good.

And in addition - for years, even before the war, I have criticism about the fact that in Likud no leaders have grown who would challenge Netanyahu in a real contest in the primaries, but that is a problem of the senior officials in Likud who do not dare and not of Netanyahu. As far as I remember, that is what my son wrote. For this time I supported Netanyahu's request for reserved spots in the hope that he would bring to the list heroes of valor from the last 3 years, who would strengthen the party in a spirit of heroism and victory over our enemies from without."