Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has scored a landslide victory in a primary race for leadership of the ruling Likud party.
The leader, who was given an important boost ahead of the country’s third election in less than a year, could now see himself be given another opportunity to form a government following the March election, after falling short in two previous attempts this year.
By easily fending off Likud lawmaker Gideon Saar, Netanyahu also kept alive his hopes of winning immunity from prosecution after being indicted last month on a series of corruption charges.
Taking to Twitter just over an hour after the polls closed the Prime Minister wrote: ‘A giant victory.’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could now see himself be given another opportunity to form a government following the March election after his landslide victory
The Israeli leader thanked members of Likud for the trust, support and love they had given him
He added: ‘Thanks to the members of Likud for the trust, support and love. God willing, I will lead Likud to a big victory in the coming elections.’
In a tweet, Saar congratulated Netanyahu and said he would support the prime minister in the national election.
He wrote: ‘I am absolutely comfortable with my decision to run,’ he added. ‘Whoever isn’t ready to take a risk for the path he believes in will never win.’
Official results released by Likud showed Netanyahu capturing 41,792 votes, or 72 per cent, compared with 15,885 votes, or 28 per cent, for Saar.
While removing any doubts about Netanyahu’s standing in the ruling party, the primary is likely to prolong Israel’s political uncertainty.
Netanyahu will remain at the helm of Likud through the March elections, and his lingering legal troubles could again scuttle efforts to form a government after that.
In September’s election, both Likud and its main rival, the centrist Blue and White party, were unable to secure a parliamentary majority and form a government on their own.
Following the Prime Minister’s victory, Gideon Saar, congratulated him and said he would support the prime minister in the national election
Pictured: Gideon Saar speaks at a campaign rally on December 16 in Or Yehuda, Israel
The two parties together captured a solid majority of parliamentary seats, leaving a national unity government as the best way out of the crisis. But Blue and White has refused to sit in a partnership with Netanyahu when he is under indictment.
Opinion polls predict a similar outcome in the March election, raising the possibility of months of continued paralysis. The country already has been run by a caretaker government for the past year.
Netanyahu, who has led the country for the past decade, maintained his position atop the political right by cultivating an image as a veteran statesman with close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders.
His refusal to make any concessions to the Palestinians was rewarded after Trump took office, as the U.S. began openly siding with Israel on several key issues, validating Netanyahu’s approach in the eyes of many Israelis and adding to his mystique.
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.
The Prime Minister was indicted on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in November but he vowed to remain in office
His fortunes have nevertheless waned over the past year, after he was unable to form a government following the unprecedented back-to-back elections in March and September.
His party came in second place in September, leading many observers to view the vote as the beginning of the end.
In November, Netanyahu was indicted on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes, the culmination of three long-running corruption investigations.
Despite this, Netanyahu vowed to remain in office, dismissing the indictment as an ‘attempted coup’ by hostile media and law enforcement.
Reuven Hazan, a political science professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said the victory for Netanyahu would have no impact on the general election.
‘It simply means that he’s managed to maintain control of the party,’ he said. ‘It just means that the faithful have circled the wagons. It means nothing for the elections except that he looks good. He looks strengthened.’