As Israel's election campaign enters its final stretch before party lists must be submitted to the Central Elections Committee, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is intensifying efforts to secure what could be a major recruitment coup.
According to a report by Walla News, heavy pressure has been applied in recent days on Gabi Ashkenazi, former IDF Chief of Staff and former Foreign Minister, to join Likud's Knesset list. The push involves several prominent mayors affiliated with Likud, who have been speaking directly with Ashkenazi in an attempt to persuade him to accept the offer and take one of Netanyahu's reserved slots on the party slate.
The reserved spots allow party leaders to place candidates in safe positions on the list regardless of internal primaries.
