Growing tensions within Israel’s Likud Party have fueled speculation that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu could consider leaving the party if his proposed changes to the party’s primary system are rejected, according to a report published by Maariv.

The dispute centers on Netanyahu’s push to expand the number of reserved slots on the party’s Knesset list. His proposal is expected to come before Likud’s Constitution Committee on Sunday, where negotiations are continuing in an effort to avoid a divisive internal showdown.

According to the report, Netanyahu himself has not publicly threatened to leave Likud. However, associates have reportedly conveyed messages to senior party officials suggesting that if his proposal is defeated in a secret ballot, he could consider forming a new political party together with most of Likud’s current Knesset faction.

While such a move would prevent Netanyahu from using the Likud name, sources said it could dramatically reshape Israel’s political landscape and raise complex questions regarding party financing and parliamentary alignment.

The standoff has highlighted growing friction between Netanyahu and senior Likud figures, including party chairman Chaim Katz and MK David Bitan, over the issue of reserved spots on the party list.

Party insiders cautioned that demands for as many as ten reserved slots could further deepen the crisis.

“Insisting on ten reserved spots could destroy the Likud,” one source warned.

At the same time, party officials believe the messages are primarily intended to increase pressure during internal negotiations rather than signal an imminent split.

Meanwhile, an internal poll of 714 Likud members found that 43.4% said they would leave Likud and support a new party led by Netanyahu if one were formed, while 20% said they would remain loyal to Likud even without Netanyahu at its head.

Negotiations are expected to continue through the weekend in hopes of reaching a compromise before Sunday’s vote, which could become a major test of Netanyahu’s influence within his own party.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)