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Agence France-Presse

Embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won a landslide victory on Friday in a primary election for leadership of his ruling right-wing Likud party, ensuring he will lead it into March elections.
Official results announced early on Friday showed Netanyahu capturing 72 per cent of the votes, compared with 28 per cent for challenger Gideon Saar.
“A huge win! Thank you to Likud members for their trust, support and love,” Netanyahu tweeted an hour after polls closed.
“With God’s and your help, I will lead Likud to a big victory in the upcoming elections and we will continue to lead the State of Israel to unprecedented achievements,” he added.

Around 57,000 Likud members cast their ballots across the country throughout Thursday.
The primaries were held amid a political stalemate that has paralysed Israel for months, with the country headed toward an unprecedented third parliamentary election in under a year, set to take place on March 2.
Saar, a former minister seen as to the right of Netanyahu, tweeted after polls closed thanking his supporters, volunteers and voters.
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He had announced his leadership challenge last month after Israel’s attorney general indicted Netanyahu for fraud, bribery and breach of trust.
Netanyahu, 70, denies the allegations and has accused the police, prosecutors and the media of a witch hunt.
Likud and the centrist Blue and White were near neck-and-neck after polls in March and September, with neither able to form a coalition in the country’s proportional parliament.
Additional reporting by Reuters, Agence France-Presse


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Official results announced early on Friday showed the embattled prime minister capturing 72 per cent of the votes
It will come as relief to Netanyahu, who is facing indictment and fighting for political survival



Official results announced early on Friday showed the embattled prime minister capturing 72 per cent of the votes, compared with 28 per cent for challenger Gideon Saar.
