Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son, Yair, popped up on Twitter Jan. 18 with the following tweet: “OK, it’s been two days now, and they [Yamina party leaders] haven’t denied it yet. You call this a party ‘to the right of the Likud’? Even when they won’t deny that they might join up with Blue and White, Meretz and the [Arab] Joint List?” Beneath this tweet, he linked another tweet of his from one day earlier. Intended as a warning to supporters of the right, it called on them to pay close attention to the fact that the leaders of Yamina have not denied reports that they would join the Blue and White party after the election.

Between those two tweets, the younger Netanyahu spent his weekend firing off a barrage of other posts and messages targeting the leaders of Yamina. He was trying to cast aspersions on them by claiming that they plan to cross the lines after the election and join the Blue and White party. This multi-stage attack wasn’t just a reflection of Yair Netanyahu’s private feelings. Rather, it echoed what had been coming out of the prime minister’s office throughout that entire time.

Over the past few days, quite a few senior members of the Likud have heard Prime Minister Netanyahu express his distrust of what Yamina leaders Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked really want. The enormous pressure that he exerted to bring about a major consolidation of the right-wing parties continued until Jan. 15, the last deadline for the parties to submit their lists of candidates for the election. And yet, despite all his efforts, he ran up against a veto from Bennett. In the end, far-right Otzma Yehudit Chairman Itamar Ben Gvir and the legacy of Rabbi Meir Kahane were left out of the newly united list on the right (Yamina), and Netanyahu’s dream of winning the 61 seats he needs to gain immunity seemed more distant than ever.