Likud activists want to stop Netanyahu from running again

"We don't build up dictators, not looking for a king," ideological forum head says; members propose to limit leader to 3 terms.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Long line at Likud primary 370 (photo credit: Lahav Harkov)
Long line at Likud primary 370
(photo credit: Lahav Harkov)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu should be prevented from running in the next race for leader of Likud, top activists in the party said Sunday.
The activists intend to pass a proposal that would limit a Likud leader to three consecutive terms.
Journalist Yoav Yitzhak broke the story late Saturday night on his News First Class website that the proposal was being promoted by Likud activists loyal to two likely future candidates for Likud leader.
But Likud activists said Sunday that such a proposal would receive support from nearly all political camps inside the Likud central committee. The proposal was initiated by Eli Malka, a Likud activist from Ashkelon who is one of the leaders of the Darkeha Darkenu (Your Way is Our Way) ideological forum that was formed to work for Netanyahu but now opposes him.
“We do not build up dictators and we are not looking for a king,” said Darkeha Darkenu leader Eli Cornfeld.
“Netanyahu made the Likud central committee members – who are supposed to do the work for the party day in and day out – into an unwanted gang of lepers.”
Cornfeld will be running in next Sunday’s race for chairman of the Likud central committee against Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon, mayors Shimon Susan and Yossi Shavo, and central committee member Michael Puah, a close ally of MK Moshe Feiglin.
Prior to that race, there will be an election Tuesday for head of the Likud convention between Danon, former minister Michael Eitan, and Ma’aleh Adumim central committee member Gidon Ariel. There will also be an election Tuesday for the convention’s council.
Ayelet Galili, who heads the Likud faction in the Na’amat women’s organization, sent a letter to Netanyahu Sunday, urging him to reserve a third of the slots on the convention council for female candidates.
“It is important to encourage the participation of women in politics and give them fitting representation in positions of power,” Galili wrote.