Over the past few days, daily life within the Likud party has revolved around allegations of primary fraud, double-counting, recounts, grave claims of institutional corruption, complaints to the police, proceedings before internal party tribunals, and mutual accusations that are sometimes difficult to stomach.
It all looks like a direct continuation of events that preceded the primary, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Likud figures were caught up in an extraordinary bout of political wheeling and dealing. That effort was aimed at undermining the democratic character of the internal elections and dictating the party slate from above through a system of backroom horse-trading.
Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel, who is now fighting for her political life amid efforts to push her down the slate, gave a vivid description of the rot inside the ruling party in an interview with the Kan Bet radio station.
“They are stealing the internal elections,” she said. “Minister Haim Katz is determined to get Eti Atia into the next Knesset at all costs. First it was an appointments committee, then the [fight over] districts, then deals designed to put only her in at the expense of other women.”
