Lose Bibi and it's Wither Likud

Well, Bibi is facing a leadership challenge from within Likud from a man named Gideon Sa'ar, who sounds like he should be a good looking commando in Israel Strikes: Will gets his act Together and Finishes the Trilogy.

As Israel hurtles like an out of control freight train toward a third election in a year, The Times of Israel reports on the latest poll:

But everything changes if the embattled Netanyahu, facing corruption charges in three criminal cases, is forced out as Likud leader. In the poll, respondents were asked how they would vote if Netanyahu’s main primary challenger, MK Gideon Sa’ar, was leading Likud instead. The answer bodes poorly for Likud, as votes are reshuffled among right-wing parties, largely to its detriment, while no real difference emerges in the final tally of parliamentary blocs. Thus, Likud falls precipitously to 26 seats. Some of those lost Likud votes, as has happened in the past, go to Shas, which jumps to 10 seats. More go to New Right, which leaps to 9 seats.

So it's Bibi or bust for Likud. 

Everything hinges on Avigdor Liberman and Israel Bitenyu. At this point we're inclined to blame that fat, bearded, Russian (Moldovan, actually) bastard for this entire mess.

We see don't think Israel Bitenyu would boot Liberman. That's his party and it represents a million Russian Jews. The membership may be Jewish, but they are still Russian. And those people stick with their people.