Newsletters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled that he could run in the next parliamentary elections with an independent list amid deep disagreements inside his Likud party over how its election slate should be formed, Israeli media reported.
According to Israel's Channel 14, Netanyahu raised the possibility during a closed-door meeting with Tourism Minister Haim Katz, who chairs the Likud Party Central Committee.
Netanyahu reportedly said he could take his own path if no compromise is reached within the party.
"If necessary, I can form my own special list and run alone in the election," Netanyahu was quoted as saying.
Sources who attended the meeting said Netanyahu made the remarks "jokingly," but some party members described them as a political warning and a clear message showing the depth of the rift inside Likud.
The main source of the dispute between Netanyahu and Katz is the prime minister's demand to increase his quota of places on the Likud list from 5 to 11 in the first 40, according to the report.
Netanyahu reportedly wants the move to improve the party's chances in the election and "change the face of the party."
Katz, however, considers the demand excessive and has argued that party bodies would not approve such a high number of reserved slots.
The disagreement has deepened tensions over how Likud's list of candidates should be shaped before the next parliamentary vote.
2 min read
A temporary compromise was reached over the party's internal election calendar, according to Israeli media reports.
Likud's Constitution Committee unanimously decided late Sunday that internal primaries for the 26th Knesset elections will be held on Aug. 4.
The vote had previously been planned for July 28, but the date was postponed through coordination between Netanyahu and Katz.
Netanyahu had earlier proposed canceling the primaries entirely and having candidates selected by a committee, according to the reports.
He has since stepped back from that proposal but continues to insist on increasing the number of reserved places he can personally determine on the party list.
If no early election is called, Israel's next general election must be held by Oct. 27, 2026, at the latest.
The internal movement inside Likud comes at a time when the government has been losing public support.
According to the latest poll published by the Maariv newspaper, if an early election were held today, the opposition bloc would reach 60 seats in parliament.
The current coalition bloc led by Netanyahu would remain at 50 seats, the poll projected.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
