Simultaneously with the attempt to catch defectors on their side, the opposition expresses real concern about defectors from the Likud ranks, who would prefer to support the government in exchange for appointment to senior positions.
Netanyahu: "This is a government of shame and disgrace" // Archive photo, May 2022: Knesset channel
The concern began this week during an internal discussion in the ultra-Orthodox parties, which involved Benjamin Netanyahu and Yariv Levin, demanding to keep a close eye on what is happening in the back rows of the Likud list.
According to sources who participated in the debate, the fear stemmed from the fact that the government is determined to pass the budget in any case, and that there may be those at the bottom of the Likud list who will conclude that this is their last term and fail to run again in the next Knesset.
His name usually does not appear at family dinners.
MK Patin Mula (Archive), Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Patin Mula's name usually does not appear, presumably, in family dinners and weekend parliaments.
But his name came up this week when one of the ultra-Orthodox representatives in the Knesset turned to Benjamin Netanyahu and Yariv Levin.
"What about a stuffed patin?" He asked them.
It turns out that this strange question was preceded by an internal discussion that developed between the leaders of the ultra-Orthodox parties about the government's ability to survive.
Some of those present expressed concern that Likud leaders are engaged in finding defectors from the other camp, and may find themselves in the reality that the next Silman is coming from within you.
"Who said that in these moments, in order to transfer the budget and extend the days of the government, Zeev Elkin or another senior member of the coalition did not come and try to seduce some patin from the Likud to join in exchange for the appointment of a minister?"
Things made the room uncomfortable.
The decision was to contact Netanyahu and Levin as soon as possible and draw their attention to the scenario.
Will they find "their own Silman"?
Prime Minister Bennett and Minister Elkin (archive), Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The scenario that the opposition fears is that a Member of Knesset from the last ranks of the Likud may come to the conclusion that he has nothing to lose.
That it is better to be a minister in this term and retire, than to remain a simple MK and be dropped from the list.
Levin and Netanyahu reassured their interlocutor, telling him that there was no chance that the Likud would disband.
They said it with determination and confidence.
However, it is difficult to say that the other side has calmed down from the danger of individual MKs from the Likud, whose future, in their estimation, is already behind them.
The full column will appear tomorrow in the "Israel Hashavua" supplement
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