Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday shifted his support from incumbent Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin to Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein (Likud) in the race for the next Knesset speaker. The prime minister shifted allegiances despite prior pledges of support to Rivlin. Rivlin said on Sunday that he believed he would probably lose his bid for the post. Though Netanyahu had told Rivlin repeatedly during coalition negotiations that Rivlin was his first choice for Knesset speaker, the shortage of ministerial positions available to Likud MKs forced Netanyahu to back Edelstein instead. Rivlin believed Netanyahu had already decided to replace him last weekend, following what he described as a "difficult" telephone conversation. After the conversation, Rivlin said he realized that he was no longer the prime minister's leading candidate. If Netanyahu officially withdraws his support for Rivlin, Rivlin will have to decide whether to run against Edelstein within the Likud party by secret ballot, or whether to withdraw his candidacy altogether. Analysts believe that Rivlin will probably abandon the race. Even if Rivlin withdraws, Edelstein is not guaranteed the post. Analysts believed that Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and Culture and Sport Minister Limor Livnat may also throw their hats in the ring if they are not satisfied with the positions Netanyahu offers them in the next government. Netanyahu would then have to choose one of the three as his recommendation to fellow party members. Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman is expected to support whomever the prime minister chooses, although he is said not to be partial to Rivlin. If Rivlin decides not to compete within the Likud faction, or should he compete and lose, insiders believe he will not run against the Likud's chosen candidate in the final plenum vote. Any individual MK may enter the Knesset-wide contest for Knesset speaker. It is also said that Rivlin would not reject a ministerial post should the prime minister offer one. In any case, Rivlin is expected to run for president in 15 month's time, after the completion of current President Shimon Peres' seven-year term.
In battle for Likud's Knesset positions, Rivlin squeezed out
Though Netanyahu had told long-time Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin during coalition talks that he was his first choice, the shortage of ministerial positions available to Likud MKs forces the prime minister to back Yuli Edelstein instead.
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