Netanyahu claims victory in challenge for party, Israeli leadership

Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared victory in a vote to establish leadership of his Likud Party on Thursday.

Official results showed Netanyahu won 72 percent of the vote, while his former education and interior minister, Gideon Sa'ar, won 28 percent. Just below 50 percent of eligible voters cast ballots.

Netanyahu posted a celebratory tweet declaring his defeat of fellow right-wing politician in a Likud Party primary that comes amid enduring political instability and corruption charges against the Israeli leader.

"A huge win! Thank you to the friends and Likud members for their trust support and love. 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," Netanyahu wrote.

Sa'ar conceded in a tweet shortly after, congratulating Netanyahu on his victory.

"My friends and I stand behind him in the campaign for the Likud's success in the elections. The contest was immensely important to Likud and its democratic character," he wrote.

Netanyahu faced some sentiment eager for change, as his failure to build a coalition government to lead Israel after two national elections this year -- and new indictments on charges of corruption -- made his standing in the party less secure.

More than 116,000 Likud members began voting at 106 polling stations Thursday morning, which remained open until 11 p.m.

Israel will stage another election March 2, since Netanyahu, Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz and the Knesset were all unable to form a unity government when given the mandate by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. Supporters contended that Sa'ar would have been able to work with rivals to form a coalition government.

Israeli prosecutors indicted Netanyahu last month on bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges stemming from three corruption cases that critics say will cloud his leadership even if he's re-elected.

Considering the long odds, Sa'ar's supporters considered winning about 30 percent of Thursday's vote as a qualified success. Netanyahu has been the party's leader since 2005 and Israel's prime minister since 2009.