Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday hailed the election of a raft of loyalists to run on behalf of his right-wing Likud party in close-fought October 27 polls.
At 76, Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving prime minister but faces an uphill battle as he fights for re-election, with polls predicting that Likud's number of parliamentary seats could fall from 32 to as low as 22 out of 120.
The party's primaries were seen as a measure of Netanyahu's control over Likud as well as an audition for aspirants to succeed him, although Netanyahu has given no indication he wants to leave politics.
The top 10 names on Likud's list include seven ministers, the parliament speaker and coalition whip, all of whom are considered close to Netanyahu.
Energy Minister Eli Cohen, who formerly served as foreign minister, secured first place on the slate behind Netanyahu.
Cohen faced a police investigation over allegations that in his previous role he improperly issued diplomatic passports to Likud loyalists including Netanyahu's son.
"Prime Minister and Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu is very pleased with the results of the Likud primaries and congratulates those who were elected to the party's list," a party statement said, adding the slate reflected "renewal and the integration of new forces at the top of the list."
Monday's primary voting saw Likud's 140,000 members choose their candidates.
Netanyahu has also set aside around 10 spots for people directly of his own choosing.
"Together with the candidates Netanyahu will appoint, who will further strengthen the list, the Likud team under Netanyahu's leadership will achieve a major victory and the formation of a broad national government immediately after the elections," the Likud statement said.
Netanyahu, leading the most right-wing government in Israeli history, has launched a regional war with attacks in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran and elsewhere since the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.
Netanyahu is Israel's first prime minister to face a criminal trial, with several charges of corruption against him. He denies wrongdoing and has sought to delay his trial due to his role as a wartime leader.
Netanyahu also faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Israel's massive offensive in Gaza, charges he angrily denies.
