Israel elections: Benjamin Netanyahu achieves landslide victory in Likud party leadership race
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New Delhi, December 27: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared victory in a leadership primary in his right-wing Likud party, ensuring he will lead it into March elections. Netanyahu captured 72% of the votes, compared with 28% for challenger Gideon Saar.
Earlier, Netanyahu had declared a huge victory following an exit poll that put him on course for more than 70% of the vote. An hour after polls closed yesterday, Netanyahu announced his victory in a tweet and thanked his supporters. Around 57,000 Likud members cast their ballots across the country throughout yesterday.
Challenger Gideon Saar conceded defeat, saying he would now back Netanyahu in March's general election. Saar, a former minister seen as to the right of Netanyahu, tweeted after polls closed thanking his supporters, volunteers and voters. He announced his leadership challenge last month after Israel's attorney general indicted Netanyahu for fraud, bribery and breach of trust.
Netanyahu, the country’s longest-serving leader, has struggled this year to extend his 10-year consecutive run in high office after two elections produced muddied results in which none of the parties were able to form a governing coalition.
Netanyahu has talked up his international prowess, especially with other rightwing leaders such as Trump, and his security credentials. However, more bellicose political opponents have portrayed the prime minister as indecisive against militants in Gaza.
Netanyahu's hard-line approach to Iran has also proved popular. He was a staunch opponent of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which has unraveled since Trump withdrew from the agreement. A wave of Israeli strikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq has burnished Netanyahu's claims to having protected Israel from its enemies.