On Monday, the wife of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sara participated in a Likud campaign strategy session. The meeting was held in the party's headquarters located in Tel Aviv, and during the session, she demanded that the party go on the offensive, attacking the Minister of the Interior Ayelet Shaked personally, a request that is contrary to the position of the official Likud campaign and its advisors.
The news of Sara’s desire to take down Shaked was reported in Israeli news outlets. According to the reports, Sara Netanyahu's demand came after the Likud campaign had already decided not to attack Ayelet Shaked. Most Likud officials concluded that any personal attacks against Shaked and her party will end up doing the opposite of what was intended, meaning it would only strengthen support for her at the expense of the Likud.
For Israeli election enthusiasts; here's my profile on @Ayelet__Shaked, the woman who could end up securing a historic comeback for @netanyahu or become one of the biggest tragedies in modern Israeli politics. Thanks to @ABushinsky @TheJeremyMan & Prof. Gideon Rahat https://t.co/DsQTLkmt5i
— Jotam Confino (@mrconfino) October 4, 2022
Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu has already dismissed any possible agreement between Shaked and the Likud should they both be in a position to form a coalition, which is also in line with the other parties that are members of the Netanyahu Bloc. During an event at a synagogue in the city of Modi'in, Netanyahu said: "Shaked will join the left again, who trusts her?". In response, Shaked issued a statement claiming that: "Netanyahu, Your personal hatred endangers the right-wing bloc."
Is @YairNetanyahu (the egomaniac blocked me) and his mother fueling the downfall of @netanyahu? Some in the party say his anti @Ayelet__Shaked campaign will fail, causing @Likud_Party to lose their 5th election in a row.#elections2022 #Israel @TheJudean https://t.co/bkZRnR38Yw
— Jay Engelmayer | #JusticeforMalkiRoth (@jengelmayer) October 3, 2022
Netanyahu has expressed in closed conversations in recent days his fear that Shaked will try to "extort" the prime ministership from him if she passes the mandate threshold and enters the next Knesset. "She must not be trusted. If she passes with four mandates, she will try to extort the prime ministership from me like Bennett, so she must not be allowed to pass," Netanyahu said in conversations with Likud officials and others in the political establishment.
As already reported on The Judean, Likud launched a targeted campaign against Shaked last week under the title "Ayelet will not pass", following the clear trend in polls in the last month in which she has been receiving between 1.5-2% support and is far from the 4% minimum. The purpose of the campaign is to erode Shaked's support and make her withdraw from the race, so as not to waste tens of thousands of votes, some of which may go to Likud if she withdraws.
"Shaked’s last hope for political survival appears to rest once again with Netanyahu. If the election is close and Shaked emerges as Netanyahu’s spoiler...he might offer her a last-minute deal."https://t.co/hE0vIj9QKj
— Nicholas A Heras (@NicholasAHeras) October 6, 2022
On the other hand, officials from within the Likud have openly disagreed with Netanyahu’s agenda with his new campaign, claiming that she is his only chance for 61 mandates. An anonymous official said in a statement to Israel reporters that: "She is his only chance to reach 61 mandates and he is letting family pressure decide."
