Netanyahu sikker på at vinde som Likud-leder

På grund af sygdom bringes Richard Oestermanns rapporter midlertidigt på engelsk:

NETANYAHU WILL EASILY WIN

LIKUD PRIMARY RACE TODAY

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to easily win another term as Likud leader in a race on Wednesday agaist his fiercest critic in the party,the deputy defense minister he fired, MK Danny Danon,Israel media writes today

The Likud will open 600 polling stations at 115 sites across the country to enable its 96,651 members to cast ballots for the party’s leader and the rest of its Knesset candidates in the March 17 general election.

The Likud members will also vote on a proposal to enable the party chirman to reserve two slots on the list for candidates he would bring who would not have to run in the primary.The extra vote will take place due to an internal Likud court decision on tueseday that cancelled a Likud central committee decision to grant the party leader that right,according to these sources

Netanyahu sent Likud members a message by video urging them to vote. His associates said he wanted as high a primary turnout as possible in order to maximize his margin of victory.

“The March 17 electiov is a decisive moment for the State if Israel, and it’s important that we arrive at the general election united,” he said “In the face of all the huge challenges Israel is facing there is only one force that can lead the country: A large Likud against the entire Left.

Sources close to Netanyahu said placement on the Likud candidates list would not affect how Netanyahu would distribute cabinet portfolios.When he formed his previous government, for instance , he gave a portfolio to Limor Livnat, even though three female candidtes received more votes.

Richard Oestermann