Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a rally in his support in Jerusalem, Dec. 22, 2019. (JTA/Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) News Israel Netanyahu easily wins Likud party primary Facebook Twitter Email SMS WhatsApp Share By Ben Sales, JTA | December 27, 2019 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has won his party’s leadership primary with 72.5 percent of the vote. Challenger Gideon Saar got 27.5 percent, according to Haaretz. Turnout for the primary was 57,677, or 49 percent of the total number of registered members. אחרי הדיוק המושלם במדגם הבחירות לראשות מפלגת העבודה בשנה האחרונה, נכנסים שוב לשדה המוקשים המפלגתי, והפעם עם מדגם הבחירות לראשות תנועת הליכוד, עם 758 נדגמים ייחודיים וסטיית תקן של 3.2%. המדגם נכון לשעה 22:00. להלן התוצאות שלנו >>>@netanyahu @gidonsaar pic.twitter.com/WFLTPwO6o1 — Direct Polls (@Direct_Polls) December 26, 2019 Saar, a popular Likud stalwart and former interior minister, had aimed to dethrone Netanyahu after the prime minister was twice unable to form a government following consecutive rounds of elections this year. Netanyahu’s rival, Benny Gantz of the centrist Blue and White Party, was also unable to assemble a governing coalition. Netanyahu is also under indictment for fraud, bribery and breach of trust. He has led Likud for 20 years. Israel will hold its third round of elections in less than a year on March 2. Ben Sales JTA reporter JTA Content distributed by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency news service. Also On J. Israel Likud lawmaker calls for leadership primaries after Netanyahu indictment Israel Netanyahu does not have to resign as prime minister, attorney general decides Israel Most Israelis support a government with 2 large political parties Israel Israel is having yet another election — could Netanyahu lose? Subscribe to our Newsletter Enter Email Sign Up