Benjamin Netanyahu emerges leadership primary victory. Israel’s general elections in March

Embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won a leadership primary Friday with huge victory and this ensures him to lead his right-wing Likud party in the elections to be held in March 2020.

Netanyahu is the longest-serving premier of Israel and to face a third general election. However, he is also facing a corruption indictment, but it is said he could defeat rival Gideon Saar.

Early Friday the vote counting totaled 72.5 percent in favor of Netanyahu and Saar managed grabbing just 27.5 percent.

The 70-year-old premier tweeted, “A huge win! Thank you to Likud members for their trust, support and love… With God’s and your help, I will lead Likud to a big victory in the upcoming elections and we will continue to lead the State of Israel to unprecedented achievements.”

Throughout Thursday about 57,000 Likud members participated in the voting process. It was little less than half of the eligible population.

According to pollster Stephen Miller, Netanyahu had campaigned harder than to defeat his rival and he had even multiple campaign events a day.

Miller added that Netanyahu’s Facebook page had broadcast live video of him on Thursday.

He added that Wednesday’s campaign was most dramatic when he rushed off stage in Ashkelon rally after a rocket was fired from Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

Pollster further mentioned, “His job was on the line and he fought to keep it successfully.”