For some Likud powerbrokers, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz is the obvious successor to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. There was a meeting of the party secretariat on Tuesday, 12 Menachem Av, and according to some, Katz supporters were audible in their call for him to replace Mr. Netanyahu. Some who attended deny this was the case.

During the meeting a decision was made to curtail Netanyahu’s authority in his capacity as head of Likud, which led to him summoning Katz for a clarification of events. The secretariat decided to change the party’s legal advisor against the PM’s wishes, as well as deciding major party decisions including salaries will have to be approved by the secretariat, no longer in the hands of Mr. Netanyahu exclusively. Other powers taken from Netanyahu include party appointments and allocation of party funds.

Katz voted in favor of the changes as did Welfare Minister Chaim Katz, Environmental Affairs Minister Ze’ev Elkin and Deputy Housing Minister Jackie Levi.

Katz, who is at the top of the Likud roster, was instructed to report to the Prime Minister on Wednesday morning to explain rumors and reports that do not have Netanyahu smiling. Persons close to the Prime Minister fear that while Mr. Netanyahu will remain the nation’s leader, Katz has taken over control of Likud.

Netanyahu is reportedly furious at Katz and Channel 10 News reports he will punish him by taking one of his cabinet posts. Katz currently serves as Transportation Minister as well as Minister of Intelligence Affairs.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)