On Feb. 5, Likud members picked the party candidates for the April 9 Knesset elections, providing a sneak preview of the Netanyahu future war of succession. Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and former Minister Gideon Saar took the top four slots in the primary. One member of this quartet will likely emerge as the party’s next chair once Netanyahu steps down as a candidate for prime minister.
Netanyahu did his best in recent months to undermine the prospects of his nemesis Saar, a popular Likud figure whose name comes up often as Netanyahu's likely successor. Netanyahu knew he would not be able to shun Saar aside, given his great popularity among the Likud rank and file. His explicit call urging party members not to vote for Saar in the primary appears to have had no impact either way, but it did taint Saar as a subversive — a result Netanyahu sought to ensure.
