MK Revivo Offered Ambassadorship in Exchange for Not Running in Primaries

Netanyahu's associates offered Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Eliyahu Revivo the position of Israel's ambassador to the UAE, replacing Yossi Shelly, in exchange for not running on the Likud list for the Knesset. According to Likud sources, Revivo is not the only one who received a similar offer in recent days. Netanyahu is working to shape a loyal list, fearing independent MKs who might cooperate with political rivals.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's associates recently offered Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Eliyahu Revivo the position of Israel's ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, replacing the current ambassador Yossi Shelly, in exchange for not running on the Likud list for the Knesset. This was first reported by Channel 12 News. According to Likud sources, Revivo is not the only one who received a similar offer in recent days; other MKs were offered positions in exchange for not running and not appearing on the list. The reason for the attempt to shape the list is not necessarily related to the elections themselves, but to the day after: the Prime Minister fears overly independent MKs who might cooperate with political rivals, so he is trying to shape a list loyal to him and to Likud. Yossi Shelly, who currently serves as ambassador in the Emirates, was brought back to Israel last year at the request of the Emiratis following his entanglements. Channel 12 revealed that Shelly was previously seen sitting in a bar behaving in an unusual manner inconsistent with the codes expected of an ambassador. Several sources said Shelly spent time in a bar with Israelis, and the incident revolved around what was defined as the moral and personal value domain.