10,000 Members: Where Did the 'New Likudniks' Go?

Ahead of the Likud primaries, an article in Israel Hayom revisits the 'New Likudniks' movement, founded in 2011 to influence the party from within. It reached about 10,000 members but was erased in 2022. Likud researcher Gil Samsonov explains the failure: a shift from ideology to 'chair-ology', deals with pressure groups, and activity against the party. He calls for restoring the model and a structural change allowing citizens to rate MKs.

Ahead of the Likud primaries to be held tomorrow (Monday), Israel Hayom revisits the 'New Likudniks' movement, founded in 2011 during the social protest, aiming to change the ruling party from within. The movement, defined by some in the party and PM Netanyahu as a 'Trojan horse', peaked in 2015-2019 with about 10,000 members, and helped advance candidates like Education Minister Yoav Kisch and 'Israel First' chair Sharren Haskel. Likud researcher Gil Samsonov, who accompanied the movement, explains the failure: the shift from ideology to 'chair-ology', deals with pressure groups, and open activity against Likud on social media. In 2022, the party mechanism erased thousands of members, and the movement closed. Samsonov calls for restoring the model of civic influence from within, and proposes a structural change allowing every citizen to rate the party's MKs. He emphasizes the importance of voter turnout in the primaries: high turnout will bring a worthy list, while low percentages will leave the decision to party operatives and extremes.

10,000 Members: Where Did the 'New Likudniks' Go?