Senior Likud figures have publicly voiced unexpected praise for Gadi Eisenkot, the former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff and a key contender in the upcoming Likud primary elections, signaling internal party tensions ahead of the vote scheduled for August 17.
Regional Cooperation Minister David "Dudi" Amsalem, a veteran Likud member, expressed supportive remarks about Eisenkot during interviews this week, calling him a "good guy" and suggesting he would welcome Eisenkot joining his own political faction. Amsalem's comments, which also appeared on 103FM radio, included the assertion that Likud "doesn’t belong to anyone and will continue to exist after Netanyahu." Observers interpret these endorsements as a veiled critique aimed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rather than genuine camaraderie towards Eisenkot, underscoring dissatisfaction within Likud’s ranks regarding Netanyahu’s efforts to reshuffle the party’s candidate list.
Reports have indicated Netanyahu’s intention to revamp Likud’s election slate by introducing new candidates, a move perceived by Amsalem and his allies as targeting established figures like himself and other prominent members representing Mizrahi communities. This internal friction compounds an already fraught atmosphere within the party, which is grappling with broader challenges including court decisions blocking some of Netanyahu’s primary changes and the expulsion of several party members opposed to ultra-Orthodox draft exemption laws.
Netanyahu’s leadership appears increasingly pressured amidst polling forecasts suggesting a potential loss of nine to ten Knesset seats in the forthcoming elections. Adding to the political turbulence are a series of public gaffes by Netanyahu, such as his use of a “cat” metaphor instead of the usual “octopus” imagery during an interview with commentator Gadi Taub—an inadvertent slip that commentators point to as emblematic of his waning verbal precision.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, former Likud members Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein launched a new right-wing party this week. Their debut included a video dismissing overtures from Haredi MK Yitzhak Goldknopf, signaling a deliberate distancing from ultra-Orthodox factions. Erdan has articulated ambitions to become a leading figure on the right and has set firm conditions for potential coalition formations, explicitly ruling out partnerships with parties that previously served in the "change" government or rely on support from the Democratic camp.
Despite their declarations of unity and strength, political analysts remain skeptical about Erdan and Edelstein’s party crossing the electoral threshold and securing influence sufficient to shape coalition dynamics. Their potential future coalition choices are expected to lean toward Netanyahu’s camp, complicating the fragmented landscape on the right ahead of the national elections.
As the August 17 Likud primaries approach, the party is navigating a complex internal struggle marked by ideological divides, leadership challenges, and a push-and-pull between loyalty to Netanyahu and calls for renewal. These developments underscore the volatility within Israel’s dominant right-wing faction as it prepares for a pivotal electoral test.