And Here We Are Left Behind

A month after the Likud primaries, four prominent MKs who were left out of a realistic spot on the list for the next Knesset speak about the disappointment, the deals, and the political maneuvering that led to their downfall. Some attribute the failure to a lack of support from Netanyahu's office, while others admit they did not understand the political maneuvering. The Prime Minister consoled them in phone calls, but an associate said that "Netanyahu cleaned out the Likud."

A month has passed since the Likud primaries, and four prominent MKs who were left out of a realistic spot on the list for the next Knesset agree to tell what happened behind the scenes. MK Ariel Kalner, who led a campaign to establish a commission of inquiry, reached 25th place in the primaries and was pushed to 47th place. MK Keti Shitrit, who reached 24th place in the primaries and 44th on the list, thinks she paid a price because she did not attack the judicial system. Chairman of the Finance Committee MK Hanoch Milbitsky, who reached 21st place in the primaries and was pushed to 38th place, claims that "the old cronyism still rules the Likud" and describes events of finding new votes and changing polling stations. MK Osher Shekalim reached 43rd place and finished 65th on the list, attributing the failure to strong deals and ten slots reserved by Netanyahu. MK Nissim Vaturi, who reached 32nd place and resigned, claims that "there were those in the Prime Minister's office who went after me." Prime Minister Netanyahu called each one to console them, but an associate said that "Netanyahu cleaned out the Likud." Meanwhile, Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot began building party institutions and committed to internal democratic processes within a year.

And Here We Are Left Behind