Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday defeated MK Gideon Sa’ar in the primaries for the leadership of the Likud and will continue to lead the party in the elections to the 23rd Knesset, according to a report on the Israel National News web site.
Edited by: Fern Sidman
A final tally of the votes found that Netanyahu won 72.5% of the votes, compared to 27.5% for Sa’ar, as was reported by INN.
After the final results were published, Sa’ar called Netanyahu and congratulated him on his victory in the primaries.
Netanyahu thanked Sa’ar and said that now everyone will work together towards a Likud victory in the Knesset elections, as was reported by INN.
INN reported that Netanyahu responded to his victory in the primaries for the leadership of the Likud party, saying, “A huge victory. Thank you to the members of the Likud for their trust, support and love. With the help of God and with your help, I will lead the Likud to a big victory in the upcoming elections and continue to lead the State of Israel to unprecedented achievements.”
Sa’ar issued a statement following Netanyahu’s victory in the primaries. Sa’ar has received endorsements from only four low-ranking Likud MKs.
“Congratulations to the Prime Minister on his victory in the primaries. My colleagues and I will stand behind him in campaigning for the Likud’s success in the general elections. This contest was immensely important to the Likud and its democratic character. I am content with my decision to have stood – it was the right decision. Those who are unwilling to take a risk for what they believe in – will never succeed,” he said.
According to a report on the Tazpit Press Service web site, Netanyahu had served as head of the Likud since 2005 and has remained unchallenged since January 2014, when he defeated Danny Danon by a wide margin. However, after failing to form a government twice in the past year, Netanyahu had recently been challenged by Sa’ar for the position of party leader.
The polls in the primaries closed at 11:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, and the vote counting began. The results as they are being received at the Likud party’s headquarters in Kfar Maccabiah show an overwhelming victory for Netanyahu.
For example, Netanyahu received 628 votes in Tiberias compared to only 108 for Sa’ar. In Yeruham, Netanyahu won 85% of the vote, and 88% on Sderot.
The voter turnout in the primaries was 49.15%.
According to an exit poll published by Direct Polls, Netanyahu won 71.52%, and Sa’ar won 28.48%.
Sa’ar said after the polls closed, “Thank you to the friends, volunteers, and many voters. To everyone who believes in the path we have embarked on. You have shown faith, courage and determination. I love you and I am proud of you.”
“Netanyahu has failed twice in forming a government, not because we lost the majority of the people who support us, and everyone understands that there is no way Netanyahu can form a new government after the March elections. If we don’t change leadership – we’re very close to a left-wing government,” Sa’ar said earlier, according to the TPS web site.
Conversely, Netanyahu has argued that he has led the Likud in several successful elections, and has many achievements as prime minister which may be endangered if he is forced out of office before the upcoming election.
“Israel’s gross national product (GNP) is at an all-time high, so are GNP per capita, average salary, minimum wage, incoming tourism and foreign investments. Inequality is at its lowest point in 20 years. These are great achievements. You can see the Negev and Galilee, the buildings, factories and roads, and the natural gas we have extracted from the sea,” Netanyahu said, according to the Tazpit Press Service article
Notably, Sa’ar has avoided attacking Netanyahu personally, despite Netanyahu’s indictment for fraud, breach of trust and bribery in several corruption cases. Sa’ar even said he would support Netanyahu as Israel’s next president.
Over 100 ballot stations are spread out across the country, opened from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m., affording the Likud’s 116,048 members the opportunity to elect the party’s next leader, and potentially, Israel’s next prime minister. (INN & TPS)
