Likud's Katz says he'll run for leadership, after Netanyahu steps down

Transportation minister follows party colleague in expressing interest in top job, but stops short of calling for PM’s ouster

By Raoul Wootliff 5 March 2017, 11:18 am Edit

Raoul Wootliff is a former Times of Israel political correspondent and Daily Briefing podcast producer.

Following a similar announcement by a Likud colleague a day earlier, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz said Sunday that he plans to run for leadership of the party, but only after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves his position.

“In Likud, there have been four leaders; all have been prime minister, and we plan to continue on that path,” he said in an interview with Israel Radio, rejecting the notion of an internal party effort to oust Netanyahu by running against him.

“I have said before that I plan to run for the Likud leadership after Netanyahu, after he leaves his position,” said Katz, who also serves as intelligence minister. “Right now we are working in full cooperation and I recommend that others do the same.”

On Saturday, Likud MK Avi Dichter had said Netanyahu could no longer fulfill his duties as prime minister while being a suspect in two ongoing criminal investigations. He said he planned to run for the Likud leadership in the future.

“Whoever tells you the prime minister can act without disruption and distraction while being investigated is not telling the truth. This matter is very problematic for someone running the country,” Dichter said. “I am here to lead and will undoubtedly run for Likud leadership and the premiership.”

Likud MK Avi Dichter leads a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting at the Knesset, on February 22, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Dichter later stressed, however, that Netanyahu will be the party’s candidate for prime minister in the next elections and he will only compete for the Likud leadership when Netanyahu decides to hand over the reins.

Netanyahu ally and coalition chairman David Bitan (Likud) rebuked Dichter for those comments, saying that in light of Netanyahu’s legal woes, “this is the time for unity, not subversion.”

Katz, who has publicly clashed with Netanyahu in the past, is considered a strong candidate to replace him if he is forced to step down over a possible indictment in the investigations open against him.

Police are investigating allegations that a number of businessmen have given lucrative gifts to Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, over his years in office. The prime minister has been questioned under caution about the claims, known as Case 1000.

Police investigators arrive at the entrance to the Prime Minister Residence in Jerusalem on January 2, 2017. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

Police have also questioned him in another case, known as Case 2000, in which Netanyahu is believed to have discussed with the publisher of Israel’s biggest-selling daily Yedioth Ahronoth the possibility that he would act to curtail the operations of Yedioth’s pro-Netanyahu rival, Israel Hayom, in exchange for more favorable coverage in Yedioth.

Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing, and has accused the “leftist, Bolshevik” media of pressuring the attorney general to indict him.

Most members of the ruling coalition have defended the prime minister from calls from the opposition to resign. Dichter’s comments notably broke with that trend.