Israel's Netanyahu easily re-elected Likud party leader despite criminal charges

Israel's Likud party said Friday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu easily won re-election as party leader in Thursday's Likud primary, fending off a challenge from party rival Gideon Saar, 72.5 percent to 27.5 percent, according to preliminary results. Netanyahu called it "a giant victory" and thanked Likud members for their "trust, support, and love."

Netanyahu, already Israel's longest-serving prime minister, led the party through two inconclusive elections in 2019, failing to form a government after both September's second-place Likud finish and an earlier deadlocked election in March. In November, Netanyahu was indicted on criminal bribery, fraud, and breach of trust charges in long-running investigations. Nevertheless, polls suggest that March's election could end in a similar electoral stalemate with the centrist Blue and White party.

Netanyahu's victory in Thursday's primary "simply means that he's managed to maintain control of the party," Hebrew University of Jerusalem political scientist Reuven Hazan tells The Associated Press. "It just means that the faithful have circled the wagons. It means nothing for the elections except that he looks good. ... His game is to be prime minister because that is a shield from indictment."

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Netanyahu "is desperate to remain in office, where he is best positioned to fight the corruption charges," AP explains. "Israeli law requires public officials to resign if charged with a crime. But the law does not apply to sitting prime ministers. As long as he remains in office, Netanyahu can use the position as a bully pulpit to criticize his prosecutors. He also can offer political favors in hopes of rallying a majority of lawmakers who favor granting him immunity from prosecution."

Adding to the uncertainty, Israel's Supreme Court will start considering next week whether an indicted member of parliament can be asked to form a new government, potentially barring Netanyahu from leading the next government even if Likud pulls off a victory. It's not clear when that ruling will be handed down.