Lieberman's unknowns and Bennett's female CEOs: Likud's plan to dismantle the opposition from within | Mati Tuchfeld

Likud is preparing for a scenario where the right wing does not have 61 seats. A special team is mapping opposition candidates—from Eisenkot and Bennett to Lieberman—and searching for weak links. The goal: dismantle existing party frameworks and transfer missing mandates to a government led by Netanyahu, while thwarting an initiative to take over the Knesset.

Likud is preparing for a scenario where the right wing does not have 61 seats, and as a preventive measure, a special team is mapping all opposition party candidates—from Eisenkot and Bennett to Lieberman—and searching for weak links. The plan, already underway, includes meticulous mapping of rival lists, identifying candidates with no political experience or amorphous views. The overarching goal is to examine possible collaborations and dismantle existing party frameworks, transferring missing mandates to a government led by Netanyahu. A secondary goal is to thwart an initiative to take over the Knesset or pass a law preventing Netanyahu from forming a government. The article notes 'interim successes' such as exposing embarrassing statements by candidates and creating pressure in party headquarters, but does not provide examples.