Speaking to Likud faction members, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stated that Ayelet Shaked will not be joining the party despite rumors to the contrary, Yediot Achronot reports on Sunday, June 2, 2019.

Securing a slot for Shaked would require shortening the hiatus period for registered Likud member to run for a slot, and in Shaked’s case, she is not yet registered as a member of Likud. In addition, the prime minister stated placing her in a secured slot would mean she bypasses the party’s primaries, which determines the party lineup for elections. The report adds that Netanyahu remembers Shaked’s remarks from December 2018, when she said, “This is Netanyahu’s last term as prime minister. He is not young anymore and there are many investigations against him”.

Of late, a number of senior party officials have called on the prime minister to reach out to Shaked, well-aware of her electorate value. A recent poll shows that if Shaked was on the Likud list, the party would earn an additional five seats in elections, bringing it from 35 to 40. However, it appears Netanyahu is not on board with the idea.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)