Netanyahu wins ruling party leadership vote

JERUSALEM: Embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a “huge” victory on Friday, after winning a leadership primary that ensures he will lead his right-wing Likud party into a March general election.

Israel’s longest-serving premier, who faces a corruption indictment and a third general election in 12 months, was expected to beat rival Gideon Saar but the convincing margin of victory strengthened his position in the party he has dominated for 20 years. With all votes counted, the Likud announced that Netanyahu had secured 72.5 percent, with Saar winning 27.5 percent.

Most media commentators had predicted a Netanyahu victory but its scale made banner headlines. State radio described it as a “landslide” victory for Netanyahu. It noted the historic reluctance of Likud members to depose a sitting leader.

“Since 1948, the Labour Party has replaced its leader 17 times,” it said. The Likud has had only four leaders since Israel’s inception, and only two since 1995. Around 57,000 Likud members voted on Thursday—a little less than 50 per cent of those eligible.

Netanyahu held several campaign events a day in different parts of the country, while on Thursday his Facebook page broadcast live video of him phoning supporters.

In the campaign’s most dramatic moment on Wednesday, Netanyahu was rushed off stage at a rally in the southern port of Ashkelon after a rocket was fired from the nearby Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

Netanyahu’s downfall has been predicted repeatedly since he was elected for a second term in 2009, but he has defied expectations and beaten off multiple potential rivals. He will likely remain prime minister at least until a new election on March 2.