"I hope that, in the end, there will not be candidates against Netanyahu – we can cancel the election and save a lot of money," Katz was quoted as telling the Hebrew edition of the Israel Hayom tabloid. "All the talk of replacing [Netanyahu] and who will inherit his job are premature and have no chance."
A number of officials have ruled out joining the fray, including former interior minister Gideon Sa’ar who labelled the race a "puppet show," and current Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon.
Danon placed second with 19 percent of the votes to Netanyahu’s 75 percent in the last Likud leadership election held on December 31, 2014.
Parliamentary majority leader and defense and foreign affairs committee chair Tzachi Hanegbi, who lost to Katz in the central committee chairmanship race, is said to be forming a political camp in Likud to build on support he had received last month.
The Post suggests Hanegbi may become the last-minute candidate vying to unseat Netanyahu on February 23.
