Report: Barkat and Edelstein sought to oust Netanyahu after 7 October

Following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, Economy Minister Nir Barkat and fellow Likud member Yuli Edelstein reportedly attempted to remove Benjamin Netanyahu from the premiership. According to a report by Israel's Channel 12, the pair sought to initiate a 'constructive vote of no confidence,' a mechanism allowing the Knesset to appoint a new prime minister without dissolving parliament or triggering early elections. Sources told Channel 12 that while a significant number of Likud lawmakers were aware of and supported the move, the effort stalled due to a failure to agree on a replacement candidate. Some members conditioned their support on their own potential to lead, while Edelstein later proposed a temporary unity government with himself as interim leader, followed by a party leadership contest in which he would not participate. The plan was eventually leaked to Netanyahu, who coordinated with loyalist ministers and MKs to block the move. Barkat and Edelstein were unable to secure the support of the 13 Likud MKs required to advance the motion. Edelstein left Likud last month to form the rival 'Unity' faction. While these specific details were previously undisclosed, reports from December 2023 indicated Barkat's intention to challenge Netanyahu's 18-year leadership. Former Likud MK Dan Illouz, who also departed the party last month, claimed that approximately one-third of the party's lawmakers favoured a leadership change following the 7 October attacks. Meanwhile, Channel 12 reports that Netanyahu is using upcoming internal party elections to consolidate power ahead of the 27 October general election. The Prime Minister is reportedly seeking to reserve 10 of the top 29 spots on the Likud list for his own appointees, a move analysts suggest is intended to weaken Barkat. The appointment of tech entrepreneur Oren Dubrovsky to one of these slots has been interpreted by some as a direct challenge to Barkat, though Likud officials stated the move was based solely on Dubrovsky's professional expertise. Barkat’s office declined to comment on the specific allegations but welcomed Dubrovsky’s addition to the party list.