Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday claimed a solid victory over his sole opponent for the leadership of his Likud party, bolstering his position ahead of possible early elections.
Mr Netanyahu, who had been expected to sail to victory in the primary, reportedly garnered around 75 per cent of the vote, easily beating a challenge from hardline settler Moshe Feiglin.
The result will shore up Mr Netanyahu’s position within his own party, commentators said, raising the prospect that general elections scheduled for late 2013 would be moved up, possibly before US presidential elections in November.
Mr Netanyahu announced his victory early on yesterday morning, before official results were released.
“I thank you for the confidence and the renewed support that you have given me,” he told cheering supporters in the early hours of yesterday.
Earlier, Mr Netanyahu had declared the vote a victory for “the real Likud,” an apparent reference to Mr Feiglin’s supporters, many of whom registered with Likud to vote in the primary but back more conservative parties in the general elections.
“Today, the real Likud won. We proved that our strength is our unity. We will continue to lead the country in a responsible way... for the good of all Israelis,” he said.
Mr Feiglin, a controversial member of Israel’s extreme-right, had sought to shake up the primary by translating discontent among Israel’s settler movement into punitive votes against Mr Netanyahu.
He has challenged Mr Netanyahu in previous primaries, securing around 25 per cent of the vote in August 2007.
But while official results still have to be released, Mr Netanyahu appeared to have won a commanding victory, and Israel’s newspapers splashed speculation about an early election across their front pages.
“Victory for Netanyahu, now he contemplates early elections,” daily Maariv titled its top article.
Top-selling Yediot Aharonot, quoting unnamed associates of Mr Netanyahu, said the premier was considering moving up elections currently expected around November 2013, citing “the desire to hold elections before the US elections, because if (US President Barack) Obama wins another term he could try to harm Netanyahu.”
The Israeli leader has clashed with Mr Obama on several occasions as Washington has sought to facilitate peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, and some in Israel fear Mr Obama could be more assertive in pressuring Israel for concessions if he wins a second term later this year.
“Netanyahu could be tempted to take the initiative so he can better face a re-elected Obama, who could be waiting for him with a stick next year,” political commentator Hanan Crystal said.
Mr Netanyahu also finds himself in strong position domestically should he decide to move up the vote, with polls showing him far ahead of his potential competitors for the premiership.