Netanyahu’s controversial Likud pick sparks loyalty test and internal rift

According to The Times of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has named entrepreneur and political newcomer Oren Dobrosky as the first of his eight personal picks for the Likud electoral list. The appointment immediately became a political liability following the resurfacing of Dobrosky’s past writings, in which he labelled Donald Trump 'morally corrupt' and blamed his administration for a major failure regarding Iran. Dobrosky has since apologised to Trump, describing him as the 'greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.' This reversal underscores the sensitivity within Netanyahu’s camp regarding personal criticism of the US President. The report notes that Netanyahu previously withdrew a nomination for the head of the Shin Bet after the candidate’s past criticisms of Trump’s climate policy emerged. While Dobrosky’s past comments touched on US-Iran agreements, the source does not provide specific details on these pacts, making it unclear whether the internal Israeli dispute concerns the substance of such agreements or the nature of Washington’s engagement with Tel Aviv. What remains evident is the sensitivity of Israel’s right-wing factions to being excluded from US decision-making regarding Iran. Dobrosky has also previously argued that Israel should prioritise the defeat of Hamas in the Gaza war, even at the risk of harm to hostages. The Times of Israel notes that the IDF has reported 38 hostages have died in captivity, with some deaths linked to Israeli military operations. This suggests Dobrosky’s candidacy may exacerbate internal Israeli debates over the balance between war objectives and hostage safety. In another development, Shabtai Katash, a Haredi member affiliated with the Chabad movement, is set to enter the Knesset on the Likud list—a first for the party. This comes as former Likud MK Dan Illouz resigned in protest against coalition-backed legislation, including broad military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox students. Katash has adopted a conditional stance, suggesting that non-students should serve while full-time yeshiva students remain exempt, provided Haredi soldiers can maintain their lifestyle. Analysts suggest this shift could increase the political weight of the Haredi community within Likud, though the report does not assess the full scope of this change on the coalition. Furthermore, the inclusion of former Beit Shemesh mayor Aliza Bloch in a new right-wing party led by Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein has faced its own challenges. After initially suggesting the possibility of Arab parties participating in government, Bloch retracted the statement, excluding Ra'am and the Joint List from her vision of a Zionist government. These developments indicate that Israel’s electoral competition is being defined not only by the war in Gaza and policy toward Iran, but also by the redefinition of ties with Trump, the role of the Haredi community, and the limits of political participation for Arab citizens.