It's no secret that in recent years, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's standing within the Likud movement has been at a low ebb. Too many activists have claimed that he is not attentive to them, does not 'go down to the people,' and does not address their requests and claims.
Recently, the Prime Minister began to improve his positions and meet with everyone - with groups of older activists, members of the movement's presidency, activists from north to south.
This week it was the turn of the Likud youth.
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As part of a rebranding campaign, last night (Wednesday) the Prime Minister met with about 150 young people, leaders of the Likud's young leadership, for a special meeting at the Prime Minister's House on Balfour Street in Jerusalem.
Initially, the meeting was planned to accommodate 50 people. Later, the number increased to 100, and it closed with no less than 150 - after the activists "stood on their feet" in an effort to attract more and more and more.
Some of the participants were Likud activists who had never seen "Bibi" in life-size, and they had a hard time hiding their enthusiasm and excitement. The Likud representatives at the universities stood out in the audience, who arrived wearing special shirts.
Among others, five members of the Likud Haredi headquarters management were also invited - headquarters chairman Yaakov Wider and his companion Chaim Serchuk, Yechiel Vaknin (from Malad), Menachem Preshberg (from Bnei Brak) and Yehoshua Weisfish (from Emanuel).
The participants I spoke with describe a meeting that took place in a "very good atmosphere," and where "Bibi is completely free and answers any type of question freely." Among other things, he was asked why he is not attacking Iran. He responded to some of the questions with a burst of laughter, but then answered seriously and in detail.
Even the issue of the status quo was brought up. The claim was that the Likud was harming him. Netanyahu explained that the status quo is not a stable thing, and that it changes from time to time, but it is important to do so without coercion and with full understanding.
At the end of the event, the Likud CEO announced that the Prime Minister had decided to launch the election process for Likud institutions, and wished success to the candidates.
Yair, the son, also participated in the meeting.
""Netanyahu was at his best," said one of the participants, expressing his impressions of the event.
