With national elections appearing a realistic entity in the coming months, Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu is signaling that he may secure a limited number of slots in the party�s lineup in a move to place his supporters in pivotal positions on the party roster.

Such a list includes Dan Meridor, a former royal member of the party hierarchy who left to join the now-defunct Center Party. Also on Netanyahu�s list is Galya Maor, the general-manger of Bank Leumi, and Yair Shamir, son of former Likud prime minister, Yitzchak Shamir.

Netanyahu is also busying himself to block members of Moshe Feiglin�s Manhigut Yehudit (Jewish Leadership) faction of the party from obtaining any realistic slots on the party lineup. Feiglin�s faction stands for a Greater Israel with adherence to Torah values.

Opponents explain that doing so, guaranteeing slots in advance, would represent a betrayal to members who were promised the party�s lineup would be determined by vote, and not in a prearranged appointment policy.

Netanyahu�s staff released a statement that at present, the party leader is concerned with the Knesset setting a date for early elections, nothing more.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)