Ahead of the Likud primaries: Netanyahu maintains neutrality
The Likud party primaries will take place this coming Monday. Ahead of the internal elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he has chosen not to provide public endorsement videos for any of the incumbent ministers or members of Knesset representing the party.
Netanyahu's decision comes as part of an attempt to maintain neutrality in the process of selecting the party's list members. Typically, support from the party leader is considered a significant asset for candidates, but this time, Netanyahu has chosen not to intervene in favor of any of the incumbent contenders.
However, there is one notable exception. Candidate Almog Cohen received public backing from the Prime Minister. This move has sparked significant interest among party members and the media, as it represents a departure from the general line Netanyahu has taken toward the other candidates.
Parallel to the preparations for the elections, an image of one of the ministers, edited using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, was published this week, sparking a public debate regarding the use of technology in political campaigns. The incident has added significant intrigue to the internal election cycle.
Likud members will head to the polls on Monday to decide who will make up the party's list for the Knesset. The results of the primaries are expected to directly influence the composition of the government and the country's leadership in the near future.