Details at the link for those interested. [IsraelTimes] With Likud bleeding support, PM is hoping that bringing relative moderates to top of slate, rather than far-rightists preferred by party’s hardcore, can make the difference in October’s general election
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warmly welcomed the results of Monday’s Likud primary election, describing himself as “very satisfied” on Tuesday morning and insisting that the party list chosen by members would achieve a “big victory” in the October 27 election.
Netanyahu appeared to have legitimate reason to celebrate, with several hardliners whom he reportedly feared would harm the party’s popularity in the general election shunted toward the back of the Likud electoral slate.
With polls consistently showing the Likud party likely to win fewer than 25 Knesset seats, only those who finished in the top 17 of Monday’s primary are seen as having a realistic shot of making it back to the Knesset. The other eight spots are controlled by Netanyahu himself, whose position as party leader was not part of the primary vote. |