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Inside Israel

'Bibi' wins big - turns sights on PM's chair


By Stan Goodenough
August 15, 2007

Former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu thrashed his two opponents in the party primaries Tuesday to re-affirm his leadership of the Likud, the country's major center-right political party.

Votes were cast by an estimated 40 percent of party members, who gave "Bibi" a 76 percent win.

Moshe Feiglin, the leader of the Jewish Leadership faction of the Likud, won 23.4 percent, while the third contender, World Likud leader Danny Danon got just 3.4 percent of the vote.

Giving his victory speech at around four-o-clock Wednesday morning, Netanyahu said he would now begin the battle to unseat the Olmert government and take over the country as prime minister.

It was also reported - though by news sources antagonistic towards him - that Netanyahu has decided to try and have Feiglin removed as a future competitor.

The re-elected Likud chairman allegedly believes that Feiglin - a representative of the religious settlers who is widely regarded as a fringe leader - would color the whole party as extremist, thereby damaging the Likud's chance of winning in the next general elections.

Feiglin openly professes his faith in Israel's God and wishes to bring the nation closer to its religious roots.

He is also outspoken against Jews who believe in Jesus, and has expressed little interest in Christian Zionists’ support of Israel.

By most accounts, however, the vast majority of even religious Israelis are not ready to vote a devout Jew into the prime minister's office.

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