Likud: Extreme Makeover

David Hazony quotes NRG on Yuval Rabin's endorsement of Binyamin Netanyahu--putting the endorsement in the context of others that Netanyahu has lined up:

Yet it is more interesting in the broader context of Netanyahu’s recent string of high-profile catches over the last few months. First Gen. Uzi Dayan, the nephew of the famous general and Labor figure Moshe Dayan, a few months ago. Then, more recently, Benny Begin, the son of former Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Tomorrow, Netanyahu is reportedly going to announce the return of Dan Meridor, a long-time Likud moderate with an unrepentant early-Beatles haircut. Rabin has not yet suggested that he would actually run for a spot on the Likud list, but the speculation is rife.

What do all three of these new additions have in common? A strong reputation of either clean hands or centrist views, which Bibi does not. This suggests an important PR makeover for Likud. Given the odor of corruption hanging around Kadima, it’s a strategy that may well work.

Netanyahu seems to have put together a winning strategy for winning the election. The question is--should he in fact win the February election--what will be his strategy for dealing with President Obama, who has been known to use strongarm tactics against his opponents.

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