AFP, JERUSALEMEmbattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday declared a “huge” victory after winning a leadership primary that ensures he is to lead his right-wing Likud party into March elections. With all votes counted, Likud early yesterday announced that Netanyahu had secured 72.5 percent, with Saar winning 27.5 percent. Stephan Miller, a pollster who has worked on multiple Israeli campaigns, said that Netanyahu had campaigned harder than ever before to defeat Saar. He is likely to remain prime minister at least until new elections on March 2. “The big game for Netanyahu is immunity and for that he needs 61 votes [in the 120-seat Israeli parliament].”
