Storm in Netanyahu's circle following Hadar Muchtar: "There was an argument"

The political commentator for "Maariv", Mati Tuchfeld, addressed in a conversation with Gadi Ness on Radio Tzafon 104.5FM what is happening in Likud ahead of the primaries, the issue of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reserved spots, and the situation of the ultra-Orthodox parties ahead of the elections.

Regarding the possibility that Hadar Muchtar would run in the Likud primaries, Tuchfeld said that the move has effectively been taken off the table. According to him, Muchtar waited until yesterday, the deadline by which Netanyahu could have approved a seniority reduction for her, after she registered to run. "Hadar Muchtar waited anxiously until yesterday, which was the deadline by which Netanyahu was supposed to sign a seniority reduction for the primaries. After she registered to run and the Prime Minister did not reduce her seniority, she will not be able to run," he said.

According to him, there was an argument in the Prime Minister's circle regarding her candidacy, but in the end, it was decided not to allow the seniority reduction. "There was an argument in the Prime Minister's vicinity regarding her, and we saw that the decision was no," he noted. Tuchfeld added that the dates set in the Likud bylaws are not necessarily final. "We saw that the bylaws of the parties, for example Likud, are an elastic thing. The deadline that was yesterday was already the third deadline."

The ruling that may shake up the Likud list

According to Tuchfeld, one of the most significant decisions ahead of the primaries is expected to come from the District Court, which is discussing appeals against the decision of the Likud party court regarding the possibility of incumbent Knesset members and ministers running in the party districts. According to him, if the court leaves the decision in place, the implications for the list could be significant. "If the District Court's decision leaves the Likud party court's decision in place, there will be a mess there. If it does not change it, then all the Knesset members and ministers will have to run in the national list."

Tuchfeld explained that in such a case, the pressure on the spots in the national list will increase significantly, especially in light of the reserved spots that Netanyahu is expected to receive. "The national list, with all of Netanyahu's reserved spots, is very, very crowded. There was already pressure on the Prime Minister to cancel some of the reserved spots and settle for six instead of eight."

According to him, because of this, it is an especially significant day for the Likud Knesset members and ministers who are waiting for the court's ruling. Tuchfeld also addressed the way Netanyahu is expected to use the reserved spots. According to him, many names have come up over the past few months, but the Prime Minister is expected to wait for the primary results before making final decisions. "In the end, Netanyahu decides according to the list that was elected. He waits for the primaries, after the results, and then he completes as needed. He will want to see if there is certain criticism of the list."

"Ultra-Orthodox who do not study Torah will sit in prison"

Later, Tuchfeld addressed the ultra-Orthodox parties and the pressures being applied to them ahead of the elections. According to him, they are currently dealing with two challenges simultaneously — public and political pressure from outside, and internal tension within the ultra-Orthodox society.

"What the ultra-Orthodox parties are dealing with are two challenges. On one hand, the strong anti-ultra-Orthodox campaign, after every new party that pops up on the map and all the opposition parties are all on the line of drafting the ultra-Orthodox and against them," he said. According to him, even Netanyahu himself recently conveyed a tougher message on the subject. "Even the Prime Minister last week conveyed a message, in closed conversations, that ultra-Orthodox who do not study Torah will sit in prison."

On the other hand, Tuchfeld pointed to a challenge coming from within the ultra-Orthodox society itself. According to him, a group of "new ultra-Orthodox" is seeking to integrate into United Torah Judaism, but since he estimates that this is not expected to happen, they are considering establishing a separate political framework. "They also have a struggle from within, because the new ultra-Orthodox who want to enter United Torah Judaism — and it is clear that this will not happen — want to establish their own party."