Bayit Yehudi party officials earlier in the week officially announced the results of the primary elections. Voter turnout was disappointing as only 15,701 votes were counted amid 30,924 registered party members, bringing voter turnout to a bit over 50%.

Bennet, who was overwhelmingly reelected as the party’s leader with 12,609 votes. In second place was Yonatan Branski with 1,918 votes and in last place, Rabbi Yitzchak Zaga with 1,174 votes.

Bayit Yehudi received 8 seats in the current Knesset under Bennet’s leadership, a significant drop from 12 seats when he led the party in the previous Knesset. Recent election polls do not signal a major improvement in the next elections and some believed this would lead to Bennet being replaced. However, those registered party members who took part in the election seem to believe that despite dismal Knesset election polls, Bennet is the person they wish to see continue leading the dati leumi party.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)