Netanyahu wants public to help appoint ‘fresh faces’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the public to suggest suitable candidates that he would then appoint to fill reserved spots on the Likud party list, in a video posted to his Facebook account Wednesday.

Likud members voted in favor of a motion last week that reserves spots 11 and 23 on the party’s 2015 Knesset ballot for people of Netanyahu’s personal choosing.

“I’m asking the citizens of Israel to help me select two candidates [whose position on the slate] will give them a realistic chance of entering the next Knesset,” Netanyahu said.

“We want to see fresh faces joining the party and we’re interested in hearing your suggestions,” he said.

An email account, newfaceslikud@gmail.com, was set up for the purpose, according to the Facebook page.

The Likud primaries, which were held last week, were marked by a significant change in the party make-up that saw candidates Moshe Feiglin and Tzipi Hotovely drop below the realistic threshold, while Netanyahu loyalists Gilad Erdan and Yisrael Katz climbed the ladder to secure top spots on the list.

A partial recount of votes still left the duo out in the cold.

Hotovely had come in 10th in the previous primary, making her the highest-placed woman on the party list two years ago. Last week’s outcome placed her at 26th.

Feiglin, a Likud member since 2005, said that he would quit the party following his disappointing results.

Israel will hold general elections on March 17.