The Aug. 10 primaries in the Likud are just days away and tensions in the party are palpable. Former Jerusalem Mayor Likud MK Nir Barkat believes his rivals in the part have put him on a "political hit list" and will stop at nothing to undermine his chances in the primaries.
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The 2021 Likud primaries placed Barkat in the 10th slot on the party's Knesset slate. According to him, the 2022 internal elections "are especially important – more than any previous primary. Many voters are disappointed by the [Bennet government] experiment and they are looking at Likud to see whether it's a viable alternative. You can tell that's the case by the growing media effort to meddle with the list," he said.
"You have what is called the 'soft Right' – between seven and 10 Knesset seats that use to be the Likud's and are now held by Yamina, New Hope and other factions," he explained, asserting, "These voters believe in me."
Q: To whom are you referring?
"I'm not going to name names. Likud voters know how to create an attractive slate. I'm there and I know how to generate a victory. I trust Likud members – they are smart and they will put together a solid slate that could generate these votes.
"I'm on the ground morning to night, across the country. I meet with [Likud] activists and they tell me – 'we need you to place high on the list.' I trust them. But what is currently happening in the party is that there are lobbyists there who are working against me. This doesn't only hurt me, it hurts our common goal, which is winning."
Q: What do you mean "working against you"?
"They put together 'hit lists' against me on social media. They're afraid of the power I've accumulated. They want a slate comprising functionaries – not a solid, winning slate. Because of the people trying to undermine me, Likud will lose these elections and Netanyahu won't be able to put together a government.
"These entire elections hinge on the two-three mandates we need to win. That's all – two-three mandates from the 'soft Right' that we need to bring home.
"The Likud's slate will determine the election's results. We can win only if we have a solid roster that brings 'soft Right' votes home. All polls show that I can get us these votes. This is how Netanyahu can win."
Q: You talk about "lobbyists." Who are they? MKs? Activists?
"I won't get into that. I don't fire inside the tank. Some of these people have trouble seeing me gain power."
Adamant he will not name names, Barkat insisted "These are not regular primaries. We're only two-three mandates short."
Q: What do you think about primary hopefuls who have a criminal record?
"That's a media spin trying to change the agenda. You can see that the media and the Left are obsessed with the Likud's Knesset slate when any candidate in the smallest district makes headlines and every molehill is a mountain.
"This isn't a coincidence. They understand that the nature of the slate will determine the elections. This is why Likud members are so critical. What's on the agenda is the cost of living, governance, security challenges, relations with Russia – and what does the media do? Focus on marginal issues to undermine us. This is an organized campaign by the leftist media seeking to shift the agenda and hurt the slate.
"As for the individuals at hand – they won't be elected. I denounce their actions."
Touching on the latest public scandal suggesting large-scale cover-ups of police brutality and corruption, Barkat said he was "shocked" by the newest revelations, suggesting a former police commissioner allegedly had a hand in the matter.
"I've been losing sleep over this," he said. "These things happen in totalitarian countries – not a democracy. The first decision Likud must make when it is back in power "is to establish an independent state commission of inquiry to carry out an in-depth review of the law enforcement system. The disturbing publications about its conduct in recent years require comprehensive investigation.
"The law enforcement system must serve as an example – a model for honesty, the pursuit of justice, integrity and fairness. In a democratic country, the law enforcement system has a crucial role, and the questions that arise from what the deputy commander of the Police Internal Affairs Bureau said mandate an impartial investigation that will get to the truth. We have to ensure that the law enforcement system has the public's trust – Israelis have to know that they have someone to turn to and that justice will be done."
Q: Which slot do you think you'll be elected to?
"That's up to Likud members. I trust them it will be a solid spot," he said, adding that his aims for the top-10, "somewhere between the fifth and 10th slot." Ending up outside the top-10 slots will be "disappointing. We'll miss the mark."
Q: You have a good starting point. Likud members like to vote for Ashkenazim.
"We're a mix. I believe in [Menachem] Begin's doctrine – we're all the same. It [ethnicity] doesn't matter. The public cares about who can win the elections. I have my own edge. We're a mix. We're all colleagues and we'll work together," he asserts.
As for the bad blood with MK David Amsalem, Barkat believes the matter stems from an old personal grudge, dating back to their time in the Jerusalem Municipality. Emphasizing that he pays little attention to the personal insults, Barkat reiterated that"the only thing I mind is that it's hurting our chances to get 61 [seats] and forming a government after the elections.
"I won't stoop so low and I don't comment on these things because what matters to me is the good of the party and the [national] camp. We don't have the luxury of inner fighting that are ruining things for Likud."
Q: There are those who say your personal wealth gives you an unfair advantage in the primaries.
"Everyone holds the same event – I do it at my own expense, not the state's or the party's. Likud members are smart and they can't be bought with money. They look for abilities, qualifications, personality, and experience."
Q: Still, you can understand the concerns and the criticism.
"Some people have media experience; some have military experience. I was a mayor – I've proven myself."
Q: What portfolio would you like?
"You can't divide the spoils before the fight is over. The mission at hand is to do well in the primaries and win 61 [seats]. That's where we should focus our energy.
Q: You were promised the Finance Ministry before. Don't you want it anymore?
"Netanyahu asked me to be the finance minister ahead of the [2020] elections and naturally, I said yet. But after the elections, in that political reality, he named someone else. I was disappointed, by I respected the [then-] prime minister's decision. My support for Netanyahu has nothing to do with any appointment and is not conditioned on any personal issue.
"I come from the business world and I understand what needs to be done to solve the major economic issues we face. Unfortunately, it didn't work out. I came to fulfill a mission and realize a vision for the state of Israel. That's why I left all of my businesses and I've worked for one shekel a year – for the public – for the past 20 years."
Q: What about the Defense portfolio?
"I have harnessed the best experts in every field in Israel and the world and together we crafted a strategic vision that goes down to the smallest details, so that the day after the elections, in whatever role I take, I can implement things immediately.
"We have tremendous potential and unfortunately it is not realized. I plan – from the first day in every position – to implement these things. Most politicians work hard to get to the position they want and start thinking about what to do only after they get there. As a result, little gets done and everything is stuck. This is a serious malfunction. I believe that a public official is elected to implement policies, agenda, ideas, values – not to fill a seat. They've made everything about 'the seat.' That's absurd."
Q: If you were offered the Finance Ministry, how would you handle the cost of living?
"The government raised taxes and the general public has less money. On top of that, all services raise prices. When you raise taxes - the cost of living goes up. What's ridiculous is that the state has a surplus of 45 billion shekels. We will lower taxes, and cut bureaucracy."
Q: Why didn't Likud do that in the 12 years it was in power?
"The significant increase took place over the past year. The people who are in the government today don't understand the economy. The interim prime minister says he doesn't understand anything about the economy. The past year was complete madness, unlike any year before."
Q: If the Likud fails to secure a 61-seat coalition, will you demand Netanyahu step down?
"We have to focus on one thing – getting 61 seats. There's no other scenario. The Likud needs to present a good list. We need to sell it and convince [voters] – not talk about alternatives."
Q: But you have to be realistic. It didn't happen the four previous times.
"We need to bring voters home. Make sure infrastructure on the ground is working. Mobilize more voters to go to the polls."
As for potentially joining forces with the Blue and White and New Hope parties, which earlier this month announce a joint Knesset bid, Barkat said the option cannot automatically be ruled out.
"The Likud is the largest party in the [right-wing] bloc, and it must lead the country. We cannot let this failed experiment happen again," he said, referring to the Bennett government."
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"The Likud will not sit under anyone from the Left, he stressed. "Gantz is not a rightwinger – he has other ideas and we won't sit under him under any circumstances. When there is a right-wing majority, we will consider sitting [in the government] with him. We will not boycott anyone like we are being boycotted. Parties that want to join after we have 61 seats - it is possible."
Q: What about Gideon Sa'ar and Ayelet Shaked?
"We demand an end to boycotts, be they personal or group=based. It's wrong."
Q: How do you sum up Bennett's term in office?
"The next prime minister will not be someone who is not the head of the largest party. We will not sit in rotation with any party leader how has only eight, seven, or six mandates. This experiment failed miserably and we don't have the luxury of another failed experiment like this. It is anti-democratic; it seriously undermines the ability to manage the affairs of the state.
"History has swallowed Bennett whole," Barkat stated. "The experiment he led utterly failed and I am convinced that he regrets it. His preference was position rather than ideology, and this is why he will not go down in the history of Israel as someone who presented a breakthrough but as someone who led one of the most difficult years this country has ever known. He suffered from a lack of moral backbone. I'm sorry for what happened" during his term as prime minister.
