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| Israel: voting under way in Likud primary seen as threat to Netanyahu | Israel: voting under way in Likud primary seen as threat to Netanyahu |
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| PM widely predicted to win, but rival could dent previously watertight party support | PM widely predicted to win, but rival could dent previously watertight party support |
| Benjamin Netanyahu faces a serious threat to his grip on power as members of his ruling Likud party voted in an internal ballot to decide who will lead them in an unprecedented third Israeli election in quick succession in March. | |
| Despite battling three damning corruption indictments, the 70-year-old incumbent prime minister is widely predicted to win the leadership vote. Netanyahu has dominated the famously loyal rightwing party for most of the past two decades. | Despite battling three damning corruption indictments, the 70-year-old incumbent prime minister is widely predicted to win the leadership vote. Netanyahu has dominated the famously loyal rightwing party for most of the past two decades. |
| Much of the focus is instead on how much of a dent his former protege turned rival, Gideon Saar, could make in Netanyahu’s previously watertight Likud party support. | Much of the focus is instead on how much of a dent his former protege turned rival, Gideon Saar, could make in Netanyahu’s previously watertight Likud party support. |
| If Saar takes a large minority of the vote it would publicly weaken the prime minister when he is already limping. As well as the impending court cases, Netanyahu failed to secure a clear win in two inconclusive elections this year. | If Saar takes a large minority of the vote it would publicly weaken the prime minister when he is already limping. As well as the impending court cases, Netanyahu failed to secure a clear win in two inconclusive elections this year. |
| Polls opened across the country at 9am (0700 GMT), with roughly 116,000 members eligible to vote. Voting will end at 11pm local time, with results expected overnight. | Polls opened across the country at 9am (0700 GMT), with roughly 116,000 members eligible to vote. Voting will end at 11pm local time, with results expected overnight. |
| By early evening, roaring winds, heavy rain and the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, when children are out of school, were blamed for a lower than expected turn out as people stayed home. As of 6pm, fewer than 30% of members had cast ballots, although it was unclear which candidate would benefit. | |
| At a polling station in central Jerusalem, Tommy Levi, a 67-year-old taxi driver who has been a Likud member for 40 years, said he would vote for “Bibi”, the prime minister’s often-used nickname. | At a polling station in central Jerusalem, Tommy Levi, a 67-year-old taxi driver who has been a Likud member for 40 years, said he would vote for “Bibi”, the prime minister’s often-used nickname. |
| “Bibi did things for Likud members that no one else was able to do,” he said, referencing Donald Trump’s decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem, a move decried by Palestinians who also claim parts of the city. Israel, which claims all of Jerusalem, celebrated the move as a diplomatic triumph. | “Bibi did things for Likud members that no one else was able to do,” he said, referencing Donald Trump’s decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem, a move decried by Palestinians who also claim parts of the city. Israel, which claims all of Jerusalem, celebrated the move as a diplomatic triumph. |
| Outside the polling centre, two white tents had been erected. One was for Netanyahu, where volunteers were handing out T-shirts, stickers and even umbrellas to several supporters. Next to it, a much quieter tent had fliers for Saar. | |
| Yaron Rochin, 68, a Saar volunteer with a white handlebar moustache, conceded that most people who passed on Thursday morning appeared to be Netanyahu supporters. “I hope towards midday or in the evening more Saar supporters will come, if not here then in the rest of the country,” he said. | Yaron Rochin, 68, a Saar volunteer with a white handlebar moustache, conceded that most people who passed on Thursday morning appeared to be Netanyahu supporters. “I hope towards midday or in the evening more Saar supporters will come, if not here then in the rest of the country,” he said. |
| Saar, a former lawyer and journalist who has held several senior government positions, has focused his campaign on the promise of being a more electable leader who can end the political deadlock that has engulfed Israel. | Saar, a former lawyer and journalist who has held several senior government positions, has focused his campaign on the promise of being a more electable leader who can end the political deadlock that has engulfed Israel. |
| Sombre and staid compared with Netanyahu’s more energising, media-savvy style, Saar has hoped to sway voters nostalgic for a more restrained statesman, even if his position regarding the Palestinians is considered even more hawkish and nationalistic. | |
| While Netanyahu’s rivals outside his party have focused on the bribery and fraud charges, Saar has mostly ignored them on the campaign trial. The move is seen as an attempt not to alienate Likud voters who believe the prime minister’s argument that the indictments are a media-led “witch-hunt” carried out by a broken judiciary. | While Netanyahu’s rivals outside his party have focused on the bribery and fraud charges, Saar has mostly ignored them on the campaign trial. The move is seen as an attempt not to alienate Likud voters who believe the prime minister’s argument that the indictments are a media-led “witch-hunt” carried out by a broken judiciary. |
| Rochin, the Saar volunteer, said that while he supported Saar, he was “not against Bibi” and did not believe the charges levelled against him. But a new leadership was needed after “the justice system won over Bibi”. | Rochin, the Saar volunteer, said that while he supported Saar, he was “not against Bibi” and did not believe the charges levelled against him. But a new leadership was needed after “the justice system won over Bibi”. |
| Netanyahu, the country’s longest-serving leader, has struggled this year to extend his 10-year consecutive run in high office after two elections produced muddied results in which none of the parties were able to form a governing coalition. | Netanyahu, the country’s longest-serving leader, has struggled this year to extend his 10-year consecutive run in high office after two elections produced muddied results in which none of the parties were able to form a governing coalition. |
| Polls show a third election, set for 2 March, could have a similar outcome. | Polls show a third election, set for 2 March, could have a similar outcome. |
| At the polling booth in Jerusalem, David Amsalem, a Likud lawmaker, said he had voted for Netanyahu. While he respected Saar’s bid for leadership, he said the political crisis and potential threats to a decade of Likud government meant members should instead rally around their leader. | At the polling booth in Jerusalem, David Amsalem, a Likud lawmaker, said he had voted for Netanyahu. While he respected Saar’s bid for leadership, he said the political crisis and potential threats to a decade of Likud government meant members should instead rally around their leader. |
| “This is not the right moment,” he said. | “This is not the right moment,” he said. |
| Netanyahu has talked up his international prowess, especially with other rightwing leaders such as Trump, and his security credentials. However, more bellicose political opponents have portrayed the prime minister as indecisive against militants in Gaza. | Netanyahu has talked up his international prowess, especially with other rightwing leaders such as Trump, and his security credentials. However, more bellicose political opponents have portrayed the prime minister as indecisive against militants in Gaza. |
| On Wednesday evening, Netanyahu was rushed off stage while campaigning in the southern city of Ashkelon after a rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip. It was the second time this year he has had to take shelter at an event, which his rivals have attempted to use as an example of his failed security policies. | On Wednesday evening, Netanyahu was rushed off stage while campaigning in the southern city of Ashkelon after a rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip. It was the second time this year he has had to take shelter at an event, which his rivals have attempted to use as an example of his failed security policies. |
| “This situation in which Israeli citizens live at the mercy of terrorists and the prime minister of Israel is unable to tour parts of his country is a badge of shame on the security policy in the south,” his centrist rival Benny Gantz said in a statement. | “This situation in which Israeli citizens live at the mercy of terrorists and the prime minister of Israel is unable to tour parts of his country is a badge of shame on the security policy in the south,” his centrist rival Benny Gantz said in a statement. |