Middle East News
Netanyahu wins easily in party leadership contest
Feb 1, 2012, 5:32 GMT
Tel Aviv - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared headed for a landslide victory in the race for leader of his ruling Likud party, easily distancing his only rival, Israeli media reported early Wednesday.
With about three-quarters of the votes counted, Netanyahu was polling about 74 per cent, to 26 per cent for hardline settler Moshe Feiglin.
Final results were expected later Wednesday morning.
Some 46 per cent of the Likud's 125,000 eligible members voted in Tuesday's party balloting.
Netanyahu did not call an early general election when he made his victory speech in the early hours of Wednesday, despite speculation that he was intending to bring it forward from its 2013 scheduled date.
Recent surveys show that Netanyahu would lead Likud to victory in the next elections.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Middle East
- 1. Jerusalem prelate tells Arab Spring youth to have confidence
- 2. More than 100 killed in Syria ahead of ceasefire deadline
- 3. At least 43 killed in Syria, despite UN criticism
- 4. 19 killed in Syria as ceasefire deadline approaches
- 5. Pilgrims flock to Jerusalem for Easter, Passover
Older Talkback
