Predicting up to 40 seats in vote, PM said to tell confidants that challenger Sa'ar is a 'balloon that will burst'; efforts to recruit envoy to US Ron Dermer so far rebuffed

UTJ and Shas have stuck by Likud for the last five years, but as political winds shift, they are letting other parties know that their loyalty may be up for grabs

With closure set to last weeks and deadline to submit slates fast approaching, many parties may skip internal voting

Also seeks to limit mayors to two terms; Eilat mayor quits Likud to join Sa'ar's New Hope, says Netanyahu's party has 'a culture of slander'

Eyal Arad on who Sa'ar should recruit, why Labor might not be finished, the one thing that could save Netanyahu... and the fighter jets you don't see coming

Defense minister cancels press conference Saturday; officials in his party say slate needs a 'significant' shakeup if it's to survive the upcoming election

Ashkenazi and Nissenkorn may quit politics, unsourced reports say, though party colleagues want the foreign minister to take over, and the justice minister is mulling move to Labor

Onetime confidant has accused the prime minister of destroying the party; colleagues say they were blindsided by the move

Israeli politics are littered with ex-Likudniks who left in anger at the PM. Elkin is different, and his reasons for leaving reflect the growing disquiet of many in the party ranks

In stunning rebuke, onetime confidant says PM puts his personal needs ahead of Israel's, has 'destroyed Likud': 'I can't tell voters to support someone I’ve stopped believing in'