Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office recently asked the Knesset’s legal advisers whether a constructive no-confidence motion could be submitted after the Knesset begins its summer recess, amid mounting tensions within Likud over the party’s primary rules, Maariv reported.

Sources familiar with the matter stressed that the legal inquiry does not indicate that such an effort is already underway. However, they said it reflects concern in Netanyahu’s office that the internal dispute over reserved slots, regional districts and the composition of Likud’s next Knesset slate could develop into a broader political crisis.

The uncertainty centers on the proposed primary framework, the limited number of realistic positions on the party slate, Netanyahu’s demand for 10 reserved slots and fears among incumbent ministers and MKs that they could be pushed out of the next Knesset.

The sources identified Likud MK Yuli Edelstein as one of the factors concerning Netanyahu’s associates. Edelstein has announced that he will not run in Likud’s next primaries but, at this stage, has not resigned from the Knesset. Netanyahu’s associates reportedly view that decision as suspicious, pointing to Gadi Eisenkot and Matan Kahana, who resigned from the Knesset after announcing that they would continue their political careers outside their previous political frameworks.

The concern is that Likud MKs who believe they were harmed by the primary framework or by the number of reserved slots granted to Netanyahu could unite around Edelstein and present him as an alternative candidate for prime minister through a constructive no-confidence motion, based on the assumption that opposition parties would support such a move.

There is no indication that such an effort is currently underway, and Likud sources themselves described the scenario as speculative. Nevertheless, the legal inquiry indicates that Netanyahu’s office is examining political scenarios that currently appear remote.

Against the backdrop of the dispute, Netanyahu has been holding personal conversations with Likud MKs in an effort to ease concerns that they could lose their places on the slate. He has told them that, should it become clear that incumbent lawmakers could be left outside the next Knesset, he may not necessarily use all 10 reserved slots available to him.

Netanyahu also continues to support a provision in the primary rules that would allow incumbent ministers and MKs to compete in the regional districts. The proposal is among the most controversial elements of the framework and faces broad opposition from those who argue that the districts are intended to bring new grassroots candidates into the party rather than provide a rescue route for sitting lawmakers.

Opponents argue that opening the districts to ministers and MKs would change their character and weaken one of the principal mechanisms through which new figures have traditionally risen within Likud.

A separate dispute centers on the number of reserved slots Netanyahu is seeking. Likud sources said that if the purpose is to recruit high-profile “stars” with genuine electoral value, Netanyahu primarily needs positions within the first 10 places. In their view, someone willing to accept a position in the third group of 10, or even near the end of the second group of 10, would not necessarily bring exceptional public or electoral value.

The sources added that a list of approximately 25 potential regional candidates is now taking shape within Likud, including reserve officers, business owners, company executives and individuals with significant public and civilian experience. The initiative is intended to demonstrate that the regional districts also contain a strong pool of candidates that, according to its supporters, is no weaker than many of the names being considered for reserved slots.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)