_a.jpg "Photo: Yaron Brenner")
Likud in trouble? Netanyahu and Landau
Photo: Yaron Brenner
_a.jpg "Photo: Yaron Brennner")
Minister Shalom campaigns at Tel Aviv market
Photo: Yaron Brennner
Hanegbi’s departure stunned Likud
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky
Likud disintegration feared
Senior ruling party members stunned by departure of Likud Chairman Hanegbi; party member speaks of ‘atmosphere of despondency and crisis,’ likens Likud to ‘sinking ship’
Senior Likud figures fear the departure of ruling party Chairman Tzachi Hanegbi marks the latest blow on the way to the Likud’s complete disintegration, Israel’s leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Thursday.
“The Likud was already starting to recover, and then we were hit by Tzachi’s departure,” one senior ruling party figure said. “There’s an atmosphere of despondency and crisis…there’s a feeling that the ship is sinking and everyone is running away.”
The defection of Hanegbi, who chose to join Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Kadima party, apparently stunned Likud members.
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Another senior ruling party figure added: “A radio commentator called me and said they intend to undertake a poll. I told him it doesn’t mean anything, because on a day like today we may get five seats in the polls.”
“Nobody believed Tzachi will be leaving,” the Likud member said. “Now the betting is on about who’s next in line.”
Notably, Hanegbi’s departure leaves the Likud with only five government ministers, after seven others already left to Kadima.
Senior party figures have already started trading verbal blows in an effort to pin the blame for the Likud’s difficult position on party rivals.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom argued that “radical elements” in the party are pushing away Likud voters.
“The radicals who brought on the party’s split and pulverization also led Hanegbi to leave,” he charged, and said certain Likud elements were creating “an atmosphere of aggression and thuggery” in the party.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz also slammed “radicals,” who he said were pushing Likud voters into the arms of other parties.
Bibi optimistic
Meanwhile, Knesset Member Benjamin Netanyahu chose to present an optimistic face, saying the Likud was actually gaining in strength.
“We have excellent people and we’ll present an excellent team,” he said. “I’m convinced the public will return to us. The Likud is not disintegrating. It’s alive and well and is moving up.”
In an effort to curb the erosion in Likud’s standing, the party decided to launch a campaign under the banner: “There’s no place like home – the Likud is in the heart.” The new message, drafted by Limor Livnat and Gideon Saar, will be distributed on stickers as of Thursday.
“Likudniks understand the Likud is home,” Livnat said.
However, party activists sounded much less convinced.
“My heart aches, I’m confused by this party,” Likud Central Committee member Momi Ohayon said Wednesday. Another Committee member, Shlomi Durani, was even more blunt in his assessment.
“We’re left without a Likud,” he said.
