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| Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu claims win in party leadership challenge | Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu claims win in party leadership challenge |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed a "huge win" in a vote that challenged his leadership of the Likud party. | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed a "huge win" in a vote that challenged his leadership of the Likud party. |
| About 49% of Likud's 116,000 eligible members voted on Thursday, party figures show. | About 49% of Likud's 116,000 eligible members voted on Thursday, party figures show. |
| Challenger Gideon Saar admitted defeat, saying he would now back Mr Netanyahu in a general election due in March. | |
| The internal party vote was seen as a test of Mr Netanyahu's hold on power at a time of mounting difficulties. | The internal party vote was seen as a test of Mr Netanyahu's hold on power at a time of mounting difficulties. |
| Mr Netanyahu, 70, faces trial on bribery and corruption charges, as well as a third national election within a year. | Mr Netanyahu, 70, faces trial on bribery and corruption charges, as well as a third national election within a year. |
| Previous elections held in April and September saw Likud deadlocked with the centrist Blue and White party - with neither able to form a government. | Previous elections held in April and September saw Likud deadlocked with the centrist Blue and White party - with neither able to form a government. |
| After polls closed at 23:00 local time (21:00 GMT) on Thursday, Mr Netanyahu tweeted a claim that he had won, although a result is not expected until early on Friday. | After polls closed at 23:00 local time (21:00 GMT) on Thursday, Mr Netanyahu tweeted a claim that he had won, although a result is not expected until early on Friday. |
| "With God and with your help, I will lead the Likud to a big victory in the upcoming elections and continue to lead the State of Israel to unprecedented achievements," he posted (in Hebrew). | "With God and with your help, I will lead the Likud to a big victory in the upcoming elections and continue to lead the State of Israel to unprecedented achievements," he posted (in Hebrew). |
| Mr Saar, a 53-year-old former minister, later conceded defeat in a tweet (in Hebrew). | Mr Saar, a 53-year-old former minister, later conceded defeat in a tweet (in Hebrew). |
| "I am content with my decision to have stood. Those who are unwilling to take a risk for what they believe in will never succeed," Mr Saar wrote. | "I am content with my decision to have stood. Those who are unwilling to take a risk for what they believe in will never succeed," Mr Saar wrote. |
| "My colleagues and I will stand behind [Netanyahu] in campaigning for the Likud's success in the general elections," he added. | "My colleagues and I will stand behind [Netanyahu] in campaigning for the Likud's success in the general elections," he added. |
| Mr Saar, a well-known figure in the party, had wanted to take Likud on a new path. | Mr Saar, a well-known figure in the party, had wanted to take Likud on a new path. |
| Earlier on Thursday, with reports of low turnout amid bad weather, Mr Netanyahu appeared on a Facebook Live broadcast appealing for members to get out and vote. | Earlier on Thursday, with reports of low turnout amid bad weather, Mr Netanyahu appeared on a Facebook Live broadcast appealing for members to get out and vote. |
| He was predicted to win comfortably but campaigned tirelessly because he wanted the result to show his grip on the party remained strong, the BBC's Barbara Plett Usher in Jerusalem said. | He was predicted to win comfortably but campaigned tirelessly because he wanted the result to show his grip on the party remained strong, the BBC's Barbara Plett Usher in Jerusalem said. |
| Mr Netanyahu, who is the country's longest serving leader, is facing mounting scrutiny after being indicted in three corruption cases last month. | Mr Netanyahu, who is the country's longest serving leader, is facing mounting scrutiny after being indicted in three corruption cases last month. |
| He denies wrongdoing and claims the charges are a politically motivated "witch-hunt" against him. | He denies wrongdoing and claims the charges are a politically motivated "witch-hunt" against him. |
| One exit poll cited by local media suggested Mr Netanyahu had won more than 70% of the vote. | One exit poll cited by local media suggested Mr Netanyahu had won more than 70% of the vote. |