Knesset member Miri Regev is deeply mired these days in her campaign for the role of chairwoman of the Likud party Secretariat, vis-à-vis Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz; elections will take place at the end of the month (June).

It is an interesting contest, not only due to the personalities of the contestants but because the campaign tells the story of a torn party at odds with itself, searching for its path after its failure in the elections, and headed by a weakened leader. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lacks a significant camp of supporters in the Likud: He is not viewed as an influential player in the inner forum, and there is tremendous anger at him for leading the Likud to an alliance and merger with former Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman’s party (Yisrael Beiteinu).

Meanwhile, inner party tension surrounding the election of the heads of the party institutions is intensifying. Here, too, bad news awaits the prime minister. For the role of central committee chairman, held until recent elections by the popular Knesset member and former Communications Minister Moshe Kahalon, “trouble-maker” Danny Danon is expected to be elected; Danon is a close associate of the settlers. This is a key role in the party, a role that dominates its agenda, such that Danon could ''box in'' Netanyahu with as many ideological vote sessions as his heart desires.

Another associate of the “Yesha people” (Judea and Samaria settlers) is expected to become head of the party bureau: Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin; the bureau is considered the Likud’s ideological body. This means that the hard-core right-wing camp will rule not only the Likud faction, but also the key functions in the party. And that will make it very difficult for Netanyahu to lead a significant diplomatic process.