MK Shalom considering quitting Likud primaries
After expressing his discontent over Netanyahu's decision to hold party elections at beginning of September, former foreign minister may not even run in primaries. Aides: If only Netanyahu and Feiglin remain in race, election's legitimization will be weakened
Aides to the Shalom confirmed the report Sunday evening. The former foreign minister is expected to hold a press conference on Monday and announce his decision.
Shalom, number two on the Likud's Knesset list, expressed his discontent over Netanyahu's recent decision to hold the primary elections at the beginning of September. In the past few days he has been holding intensive talks with his associates in order to weigh his options.
One of the options raised in the talks was that Shalom would announce he does not plan to run in the primaries under the conditions set by Netanyahu and in the short time left till the elections, which does not give him enough time to prepare.
Such a move would enable Shalom to weaken the election's legitimization, as they would only be held between Netanyahu and right-wing activist Moshe Feiglin.
Shalom is expected to make his final decision on Sunday night or Monday morning, following additional consultations with his associates.
Another possibility raised in the talks was to continue pressuring Netanyahu to hold the primaries in October or to try and move the battle to the Likud's Central Committee by presenting a proposal with a different date for the elections.
Such an option would be problematic for Shalom, because if he loses at the Central Committee, he will have no choice bit to run at the date chosen by Netanyahu. Some of Shalom's aides suggested that he accept Netanyahu's terms and not quit the race.
"The possibility not to run was an option raised by many friends," said a source close to Shalom. "If he does not run, we are creating a situation in which Netanyahu is competing against Feiglin, and this is not such a good situation for him."
The source noted that efforts had been exerted in the past few days to pressure Netanyahu to agree to a change in the date of the elections.
"The problem is not Netanyahu. The problem is the people around him, who are not letting him change the sate," said a source close to Shalom.
The source added that "we must take into account that if we lose at the Central Committee, we will have to choice but to run in September. The ball is now in Bib's court, and we hope he will not prove that he is afraid to postpone the elections by one month."
