Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu
Photo: Gil Yohanan
MK Silvan Shalom
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
Netanyahu decides on early primaries
Likud chairman decides on early primary elections in order unite party in time for general elections. Decision to be approved next week
Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu decided Monday to bring up the party’s primary elections.
Netanyahu made the decision in order to prepare the party for the possibility of general elections next year.
“The Likud chairman feels the party has to overcome internal conflicts in order to stand united and focus all of its efforts towards the general elections,” said a Likud statement.
Other Likud members, including Knesset Members Yisrael Katz, Limor Livnat and Yuval Steinitz, support the decision, which is expected to be approved in a meeting next week.
“It’s time to unite behind Netanyahu’s leadership. The man has proven himself as prime minister and finance minister. He has managed to bring back personal security to Israel’s citizens, and lead the economy away from disaster and towards tremendous growth,” Steinitz said.
Netanyahu’s main opponent is MK Silvan Shalom, who demanded early primary elections following the general elections in 2006. Right-wing activist Moshe Feiglin is also a candidate for the position of party chairman.
