Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses Likud party supporters during an electoral meeting in Petah Tikva, central Israel, on Dec. 18, 2019. (JINI via Xinhua)
The victory enables Netanyahu to lead Likud into the national elections on March 2 next year and gives him another opportunity to form a coalition government after failing in two previous attempts this year.
JERUSALEM, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won a landside victory in a primary election for leadership of the right-wing Likud party, official results showed on early Friday.
Netanyahu gained about 72 percent of the vote, compared with 28 percent for his rival, Gideon Saar, according to results published by Likud.
The victory enables Netanyahu to lead Likud into the national elections on March 2 next year and gives him another opportunity to form a coalition government after failing in two previous attempts this year.
"Great victory!" Netanyahu wrote on Twitter earlier after an exit poll put him on course for about 70 percent of the vote.
"With the help of God and with your help, I will lead the Likud for a great victory in the elections and will continue to lead Israel to great achievements," he added.
Senior Likud member Gideon Saar arrives at a voting station to cast his vote in the Likud party primaries for the Likud leadership, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Dec. 26, 2019. (JINI via Xinhua)
In a tweet, Likud lawmaker Saar congratulated Netanyahu and said he would support the prime minister in the national elections.
"I am absolutely comfortable with my decision to run," he said. "Whoever isn't ready to take a risk for the path he believes in will never win."
Likud members cast their ballots on Thursday to choose their leader for the next national elections from Netanyahu and Saar, the first significant challenger of Netanyahu's more than decade-long rule.
Earlier in December, Saar, 53, announced that he would run against Netanyahu, 70.
The embattled leader is facing criminal indictments in three separate corruption scandals, in which he is charged with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. He denied any wrongdoing and said the charges are part of "a witch hunt."
Netanyahu failed to form coalition governments after the last two national elections.
The upcoming national elections will be the unprecedented third time Israelis would cast their ballots in less than a year, amid political deadlock that has paralyzed the Israeli political system over the past months. ■
