Likud shocker: Kahlon wins

(VIDEO) Unexpected winner: Knesset Member Moshe Kahlon is the surprise winner in the Likud primaries, which saw many so-called "Likud rebels" who opposed Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's pullout plan pushed to the bottom of the list in favor of younger faces.

Gilad Erdan, Gideon Saar, Michael Eitan, and Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin followed Kahlon, with Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom guaranteed the top two spots, respectively. Other notable Likud members include Knesset Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Yuval Steinitz, who finished 7th in the vote, and Natan Sharansky, who finished 8th in the vote.

Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz finished 9th, Education Minister Limor Livnat came in 11th spot, and staunch anti-disengagement activist Uzi Landau finished 12th.

Livnat, however, will be moved up to the 10th spot, which is guaranteed to a woman.

Kahlon, who is closely associated with Likud hardliner Uzi Landau, is considered very popular among Likud Central Committee members. He was one of the "rebels' who opposed the pullout, but maintained his restraint and did not resort to harsh anti-Sharon rhetoric. 

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu, in an optimistic speech after the results were announced, said "there's no democracy in Kadima (Sharon's party,) but we have it. We were always a central movement in the country."

Turning his attention to Kahlon, Netanyahu said: "Here's the kid from a family of nine people who became deputy Knesset speaker and finished first in the primaries tonight."

Kahlon wins Likud vote (Footage: Channel 2)

"This is what the Likud symbolizes, this is the place where everyone has an opportunity," Netanyahu said. "Moshe Kahlon knows what social sensitivity means. He knows economics, he knows how to combine the two, and he is the man who brings the nation together. I saw him doing this many times at the Knesset. Mazal tov."

High turnout rate

Despite the heavy rains that fell throughout the day, the voter turnout rate was surprisingly high and stood at 91 percent.

The candidates in the primaries, who arrived at the Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds in the early morning hours, appeared exhausted and nervous by Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, the talk of the day among party members Thursday was the 'leadership stunt' Netanyahu has pulled on Likud ministers when he forced them to submit their resignation from the government. All party members except Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom have already resigned, and Shalom has promised to so Friday, following a reconciliatory meeting with Netanyahu.

This move by Netanyahu prompted ambivalent response within the party, and while some members said they believe the chairman was right to show his fellow senior members "who's boss," others voiced fears that "Netanyahu will make the party disintegrate."

Notably, the atmosphere at the Central Committee during the day was much calmer and more moderate than in the past, partly because candidates and party members felt a need to improve the Likud's image following Sharon's resignation from the party.

The prime minister condition was another factor that contributed to the subdued atmosphere, a calm which nonetheless did not affect the high motivation of the members.