Neither the end of the year nor the Hanukkah festivities will give him respite. After failing to form a government twice and now being charged, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is now facing attacks from his own camp. One of his longtime opponents, MP Gideon Saar, challenged him in the primaries to be held Thursday, December 26, to appoint the future leader of Likoud, the party that Mr. Netanyahu has led since 2005.
These internal elections are crucial for the Prime Minister. This is a necessary step before the next legislative election in March, the third in less than a year, which it must take largely if it wants to ensure parliamentary immunity. For his part, by daring to take part in the battle of December 26, Gideon Saar indicates that a change is possible within Likud and is already positioning himself for "after Bibi".
So, for ten days, to take up the challenge, Benyamin Nétanyahou has been campaigning tirelessly. He plans to travel the country until December 26, chaining meetings and public gatherings. His supporters, galvanized, assure him of their unwavering support. He promised them a double victory, first in the Likud primary, then in March, telling them that the future of the right would be assured as long as he remained in power. "Anyone who votes for Netanyahu is voting for the next opposition leader", hammered, for his part, his rival Gideon Saar, officially entered the field on December 16.
"We stay in the line of Likoud"
Minister of Education then Minister of the Interior between 2009 and 2014, this popular and independent Likud deputy has long been seen as one of Mr. Netanyahu's potential successors within the party. After supporting him at the start of his political career 20 years ago, the Prime Minister then made considerable efforts to keep him at the bottom of the ladder. Since coming to power, "Mr. Netanyahu has thwarted the emergence of younger leadership in Likud as a possible alternative. He did everything to marginalize the candidates and undermine them politically ”, explains Dan Rothem, political analyst and Likud specialist.
This time, Gideon Saar dared to leave the ranks, judging that the time for change had come. In this context, the confrontation is not ideological. “With Saar, we stay in the line of Likud. He would even be more fundamentalist than Netanyahu, who is rather opportunistic, describes Shlomo Ben Ami, a former Labor minister and diplomat. This primary is first of all a battle between two individuals. "
