Use and Discard: Netanyahu Plays 'The Godfather' to the Likud - and Prepares for Mass Political Liquidation | Moshe Nestelbaum

Assessment

The article argues that Prime Minister Netanyahu's extensive list of reserved slots for loyalists effectively transforms the Likud party from a grassroots democratic movement into a top-down patronage machine. By aggressively controlling candidate placement, Netanyahu appears to be preparing for a broad political purge of internal rivals. This raises questions about whether Likud can survive as a party with internal debate or if it will disintegrate into a personal vehicle for its leader.