Likud members at their election season openin
Likud members at their election season openinYoni Kempinski

The Likud party has been flying high during this brief election season as the latest polls show that Netanyahu has a clear lead to continue his task as the Prime Minister of Israel. 

As no real challenger has emerged from any of the opposition parties, Netanyahu is expected to be re-elected easily. Yet the Likud party does not want to seem too confident, as during their election season opener, Likud members stressed the need to remind their supporters that, "it is not a given that we are going to win the election." 

In the following video, MKs Yuli-Yoel Edelstein and Danny Danon speak of the future of the party and campaign expectations. 

"Most people believe that Netanyahu is already prime minister for the next term," said MK Danon. "If they really want Netanyahu to lead this country during these challenging times, they have to vote Likud." 

"As far as most candidates are concerned, the election season started three and a half years ago," said MK Edelstein, but he added, "To be honest, this is a very intensive period of time."

All those involved in the season opener seemed confident and assured in the way the elections would play out, yet the recent controversy between Defense Minister Ehud Barak and ministers who are members of Likud was something that the festive atmosphere could not mask, as Danon again brought up his desire to see Barak replaced, saying, "I do not want to see Defense Minister Barak in his position."

Danon added that he expects Netanyahu to stand strong and continue his defense of Judea and Samaria as an essential part of Israel. 

"I think Prime Minister Netanyahu knows that the public in Israel supports Judea and Samaria, loves Judea and Samaria and I hope that the next government will be a new government that will enable us to take real action, to apply Israeli sovereignty over the Jewish community in Judea and Samaria," said Danon. "We can do it, we should do it, and hopefully it will happen in the next government."