Netanyahu wins Likud party primary

Marcy Oster

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won the Likud party primary.

Some 55 percent of the Likud Party’s more than 96,000 members went to the polls on Wednesday, a record-low turnout.

Former Deputy Minister of Defense Danny Danon conceded the race for party head shortly after the close of polls on Wednesday evening.

In addition to deciding on the party leader, the party primaries determine its candidates’ list for the upcoming national elections. The March 17 election will determine the number of seats the party will receive.

The rest of the results will be announced on Friday. Likud members voted in 600 sites throughout the country to fill 38 available slots, though the party likely will garner fewer seats than that. Some 70 candidates vied for the spots.