You can count on the palm of the parties that lead internal democracy in the Israeli political system.

Of the Likud content, it is in fact the only major Democratic party. There are clear and well-known rules of the game in the major parties, which are either ruling parties or governing parties: It is permissible to challenge the party's chairman and face him in the primaries, even when it comes to an incumbent prime minister. Significant in the elections or unable to form a coalition.

Tackling the party leadership, like tackling the list, does not entail betrayal or cooperation with a hostile party outside the party. The prohibition on appointing a leader in office is not strictly prohibited, just as ministers and Knesset members should not be commemorated in their positions. Naturally, all intra-party struggle involves competition and harm to partners and members of the political path, but without such competition - there is no democracy. An elected official who makes a candidacy in front of his party mate - for the party's head or a place on the list - is not a traitor, not a subversive and not a foreign agent who harms his political home. A runner-up in the primaries is a leader with a political agenda, making him a public choice.

In the next battle for Likud leadership, the day after Netanyahu, Likud members will look around and ask themselves who can take the reins into his hands; Was a politician sitting on the fence waiting quietly in the corner, keeping his cards close to his chest and waiting for the next? Or maybe a politician who is out fighting for leadership as he tries to outline his own, even if he is aware of the fact that his chances are few?

Two different stories can be told about today's struggle. One story is the story of a bloody and painful party, in which a rude, subversive politician, tainted by foreign interests, emerges and acts to oust an old, revered, victorious, successful party leader. The second story is the story of a strong, living and breathing party, a governing party, opposite its long-standing, revered, victorious and successful leader, who is challenging a new and bold young leader who challenges the prime minister, who is also the party's chairman, due to the difficulty of forming the coalition. Ask themselves which of the two stories they prefer to tell themselves and the country today - and in the future - a story about a bloody party, betrayal and subversion, or is it the story of a vibrant Democratic party that knows how to value its leaders, and also welcomes open debate and confrontation about leadership and the way.

Not always competing to win the first battle. Sometimes dealing with politics is the beginning of a way. Democratic running for party leadership is a signal of respect for the party and a signal of respect for the contestants.