According to reports, Economy Minister Nir Barkat spearheaded an internal effort within the Likud party to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 Hamas-led attacks. The alleged plan involved replacing Netanyahu as leader of the party and the government during a period of national crisis.

Sources indicate that Prime Minister Netanyahu became aware of the maneuver and acted quickly to quash the internal coup before it could gain significant momentum. The fallout from this alleged attempt has reportedly created lasting friction between the two men. It is suggested that Netanyahu views the upcoming Likud primary as a strategic opportunity to settle political scores and diminish the influence of Barkat, who is a prominent tech entrepreneur and senior party figure.

While the report outlines the existence of this effort, it does not detail the specific mechanisms Barkat allegedly used to attempt the leadership change or the names of other potential co-conspirators. The narrative centers on the internal power dynamics of the Likud party as it navigates the political consequences of the ongoing war. Neither Barkat nor the Prime Minister’s office has provided a detailed public rebuttal to the specific claims regarding the timeline or the nature of the alleged coup attempt.