Netanyahu declares victory in primary election – By Joseph Krauss (Associated Press) / Dec 26 2019
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared victory in his primary election battle for leadership of the Likud party.
“A giant victory,” Netanyahu tweeted, just over an hour after polls closed.
Official results were expected later Friday.
A victory would mean that Netanyahu will lead Likud during March elections, Israel’s unprecedented third election in under a year.
Netanyahu on Thursday faced the first serious internal challenge to his decade-long rule as his party held a primary vote following his failure to form a government and his indictment on corruption charges.
Veteran Likud party member Gideon Saar hoped to unseat Netanyahu, telling voters he would be better placed to form a government after national elections in March.
Despite the indictment, Netanyahu remains popular among Likud members, and the fiercely loyal party — which has only had four leaders since its inception in the 1970s — stood firmly behind the long-serving leader. He was expected to defeat Saar, and a win could strengthen his hand going into the next national vote.
Continue to article: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/netanyahu-declares-victory-in-primary-election
