On the night before the Knesset began its summer session, on April 29, senior members of the Likud came to the conclusion that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is cooling to the idea of calling early elections. In a conversation with Al-Monitor, one senior Likud minister said Netanyahu has finally internalized the idea that if he drags his coalition partners into an election against their will, he could very well pay a steep price for it on “the day after.” They could decide to get back at him and refuse to join his next coalition.
In this context, the Likud is also taking heed of the latest political threat facing Netanyahu. The new party being formed by independent Knesset member Orly Levy-Abekasis is soaring in the polls. It now looks like the former Yisrael Beitenu member could wind up holding the balance of power, and it is not at all certain that she would give Netanyahu her support.
