Netanyahu Wins Leadership Race of Likud Party

Benjamin Netanyahu has swept the race for leader of Israel's hardline Likud Party, party executive director Gad Arieli said late today, citing interim results.
A win would boost Mr. Netanyahu's ambitions to reclaim the prime minister's office.
The partial tally gave 75% of the vote to Mr. Netanyahu and 20% to far-right West Bank settler Moshe Feiglin. A third candidate, World Likud Chairman Danny Danon, took 5%.
A telegenic politician and professed hawk, the M.I.T.-educated Mr. Netanyahu speaks flawless, American-accented English. He's tough on defense issues and hands-off on the economy, and in recent months has been trying to position himself somewhere in the political center.
Final official results were expected early tomorrow.