Who will be the next interior minister?
Among those vying for Gideon Sa'ar's job, following his dramatic retirement announcement, are Gilad Erdan, Yisrael Katz, Yariv Levin, Gila Gamliel and Miri Regev.
The Interior Ministry post, which is considered lucrative and could also yield political gain with mayors from the Likud, is likely to be given to Communication Minister Gilad Erdan, whose name came up recently as a candidate to serve
as ambassador to the UN.
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"If the prime minister wants to keep people in the Likud, which he should want, he will give the Interior Ministry's post to Erdan and make sure he stays in the country," said sources within the party.
Others in the Likud raised the possibility that Netanyahu would give the Interior Ministry to Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz "Netanyahu can please Katz and offer Erdan the Transportation Ministry," said a Likud official.
Other than the fight over promotions and upgrades, the Interior Ministry post has opened up another front – an opening of the lucrative position of minster. The question here is whether Netanyahu appoints one of the Knesset members or prefers to promote one of the deputy ministers.
Coalition Chairman Yariv Levin was given a promise from Netanyahu to be promoted to minister should an office becomes available. Levin, against his will, took the position of coalition chairman at the beginning of the current term, but Netanyahu promised him this will change in the future.
But apart from Levin, MK Gila Gamliel also received a promise to be a minister in this term. At a conference that was held Wednesday in Kiryat Shmona, Netanyahu responded to a Likud activist who addressed Gamliel as a deputy minister. The prime minister asked the activist, "Why are limiting her title?", possibly insinuating of a possible future promotion.
Another option is Interior Affairs Committee Chairwoman MK Miri Regev. Sources close to her said that her position in the primary elections put her as a worthy and natural candidate for a position of minister.
However, sources within the coalition said that while Likud MKs will be embroiled in a concession battle, it is possible that Finance Minister Yair Lapid will demand an additional ministry due to the size of his party, in comparison to Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu, who dissolved his party's partnership with the Likud.
"If Netanyahu wants to save himself a headache he will be satisfied with appointing only an Interior Minister. The assessment is that Netanyahu will hold the primary elections soon after the holidays and the budget. Now, more than ever, is the right time to do it," said Likud sources.
