PNN – According to an Israeli media outlet, Netanyahu has become convinced of his impending election defeat and is making preparations for the aftermath.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; the Maariv newspaper revealed in a report that Benjamin Netanyahu has concluded he has no chance of winning the election and that a faction within the Likud party is laying the groundwork for a revolt against him. Consequently, he is rallying support within the party, seeking to establish his own distinct faction—one that would back him regardless of whether he wins or loses.
The article continues: Had Benjamin Netanyahu succeeded in executing his initial plan, the Likud party list submitted to the Election Commission this week would have looked different.
That list would have included at least one figure capable of attracting center-right voters—a prominent security expert and economic figure—but a veteran Likud member who had initially harbored reservations withdrew, only to later return.
Ultimately, this did not happen; some candidates rejected the offer, and certain discussions failed to yield results. However, Ofer Winter—who had received an offer to join Likud—chose instead to found his own party and vie for the very same demographic Netanyahu was seeking to win back.
When it became clear that the anticipated expansion of the voter base was unattainable, the mission shifted: the goal was no longer to persuade centrist voters to suddenly become Netanyahu supporters, but rather to win back right-wing voters who were angry with him or reluctant to vote. These voters did not need to be sold a flawless image of the Likud party; instead, they had to be convinced that a government led by the opposing camp posed a greater danger than their own anger toward Netanyahu. In this context, polarization was not merely a secondary consequence, but a useful tool.
The judicial system, Iran, mandatory military service, Israel’s identity, the media, the fact-finding committee, and the “Left”—all these issues enable Netanyahu to steer disillusioned voters away from their current support and toward backing the opposition camp.
Another part of the article notes that, in light of this weakness, Netanyahu sought to assemble a pro-Netanyahu faction from individuals who would consider themselves beholden to him—entering the Knesset with a clear political debt. While it is unlikely these politicians will view themselves as eternally indebted to Netanyahu, their starting point differs fundamentally from that of a representative chosen via primaries based on an independent support base.
The list that emerges following the primaries and the formation of factions reduces the number of independent power centers—compared to what Netanyahu might have faced in a different faction—with each faction adding an extra layer of support for him.