Oren Hazan, Binyamin Netanyahu
Oren Hazan, Binyamin NetanyahuYonatan Sindel/Flash 90

Freshman Likud MK Oren Hazan indicated on Tuesday night that he is weighing running against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for leadership of the ruling party in primaries.

While voting in elections that appointed the new head of the Likud center and moved up primaries on the Likud leadership, Hazan on Tuesday night said he is considering running against the prime minister, reports Maariv.

Sources close to the MK said he doesn't expect to win, but reasons that running will strengthen his standing in Likud.

Hazan's office said in a statement: "since primaries were moved up, (Oren's) office in the Knesset has received numerous requests from Likud members and citizens asking...to see a promising young man compete for the leadership of the state, although MK Hazan is not involved in this topic."

The MK on Monday met with Netanyahu to speak about his performance, including his suspension for 30 days from the Knesset for allegedly mocking of disabled MK Karin Elharar (Yesh Atid) - Hazan says he has received death threats over the incident, after Elharar shouted at him "die!," during the Knesset session in which the incident occurred.

"The prime minister and I have an excellent relationship. My suspension will soon end and I will return to full function at the Knesset," said Hazan after the meeting. His suspension is due to end in the coming days.

Earlier this month it was anticipated that Hazan might possibly face jail time, after a State Comptroller report named him as the most serious case of some 40 MKs and ministers criticized in the report for varying degrees of financial impropriety.

Although he has only been in the Knesset for a few months, Hazan has already been embroiled in a number of controversies.

Hazan has been accused of providing Israeli tourists with drugs and prostitutes during his tenure as owner of a casino in Bulgaria, and likewise was accused of sexual assault and assault; the MK has denied the allegations.

Last month he apparently blew off a Knesset Committee meeting to hold a birthday party for himself in Eilat.