Netanyahu’s takedown of Barkat: A chronicle of a political elimination foretold

The Times of Israel reports on the escalating political clash between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Economy Minister Nir Barkat ahead of the Likud primaries on August 17. The article details Barkat's past attempts to oust Netanyahu following the October 7 attack, including a failed plan for a constructive vote of no-confidence with Yuli Edelstein. Netanyahu has since recovered and is now moving to sideline Barkat, who has recently praised him publicly.

The Times of Israel reports on the escalating political conflict between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Economy Minister Nir Barkat ahead of the Likud party primaries scheduled for August 17. The article describes how Netanyahu is now moving to sideline Barkat, a move that was long anticipated given their dysfunctional relationship. Barkat, a self-made tech billionaire and former Jerusalem mayor, had previously attempted to oust Netanyahu following the October 7 Hamas attack, believing Netanyahu's policies had led to the disaster. He planned a constructive vote of no-confidence with senior Likud MK Yuli Edelstein, but the plan failed as party members were afraid to oppose Netanyahu. Netanyahu subsequently recovered politically and launched a counter-offensive, portraying himself as a victim of a trap by the defense establishment. Barkat has since lowered his profile and publicly praised Netanyahu, even calling him the 'supreme leader' in a Channel 12 interview. However, Netanyahu is now seizing the opportunity to relegate Barkat to the margins of the party slate, a move that has been playing out across media all week. The article quotes Netanyahu's office responding to Barkat's recent criticism, accusing him of maligning the prime minister for media attention.