Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday night the eve of 19 Kislev emerged the victor in a critical central committee vote. The Likud’s governing body of some 4,000 members, known as the “Central Committee”, had to decide to move up the primary elections by a week, as Mr. Netanyahu requested. Netanyahu is keenly aware that if Gideon Saar decides to challenge him for the party’s leadership position, the extra week would be critical to permit him to meet with and persuade central committee members.

As a result of the vote, the primaries will take place on December 31, 2014, and not on January 6, 2015 as planned. 65% (1,567 votes) of the committee members backed Mr. Netanyahu’s initiative while 35% (835 votes) voted against it. Eleven committee members abstained.

The vote included a number of other victories for Netanyahu, including locking in the 11th and 24th slot on the lineup as per his selection. There will also be four women serving in the first 34 slots.

The outcome of the vote presents additional hardships for Saar, who has a few days left to decide if he is going to enter the race and attempt to unseat the prime minister as leader of the Likud party.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)