The Likud internal party elections, cut short on Monday because of irregularities and lack of organization, resumed today in some ten locations for 40,000 voters - about 13% of the total number of Likud members. Jerusalemites are voting at the Binyanei HaUmah convention center, instead of at the Teddy Stadium, where the physical arrangements turned out to be more "voter friendly." Polls are also open in the Binyamin Regional Council, Petach Tikva, Be'er Sheva and elsewhere.
The big story of the elections appears to be the success of the new "Jewish Leadership" movement within the Likud, headed by Moshe Feiglin. The weekly Makor Rishon wrote on Friday that the group's "success has been phenomenal. Anyone who understands the Likud agrees that Jewish Leadership has become a powerful force." Even Yediot Acharonot, Israel's largest paper, wrote, "Feiglin's movement cannot be pushed aside. The Jewish Leadership bloc is projected to bring over 100 members to Likud's Central Committee. They will effect decisions on such things as the makeup of the Likud Knesset list and will directly influence governmental decisions."
Michael Puah, a senior Jewish Leadership figure, told Arutz-7 today that the interim results publicized last night show that close to 90 Jewish Leadership names were elected to the Central Committee - "and we only expected 70 from that group. We expect another 30 from today's elections, but maybe we'll again be pleasantly surprised." He said that though 100 or 120 representatives out of a total of some 2,700 Central Committee members sounds paltry, "even 30 members is a group with much power, given the ways of internal party politics..." Asked if his organization might be represented by a Knesset Member in the coming Knesset, Puah said, "We have a good chance for more than one, if we act wisely."
Final election results are due to be released this week, and the Likud's first Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Oct 23-25.
The big story of the elections appears to be the success of the new "Jewish Leadership" movement within the Likud, headed by Moshe Feiglin. The weekly Makor Rishon wrote on Friday that the group's "success has been phenomenal. Anyone who understands the Likud agrees that Jewish Leadership has become a powerful force." Even Yediot Acharonot, Israel's largest paper, wrote, "Feiglin's movement cannot be pushed aside. The Jewish Leadership bloc is projected to bring over 100 members to Likud's Central Committee. They will effect decisions on such things as the makeup of the Likud Knesset list and will directly influence governmental decisions."
Michael Puah, a senior Jewish Leadership figure, told Arutz-7 today that the interim results publicized last night show that close to 90 Jewish Leadership names were elected to the Central Committee - "and we only expected 70 from that group. We expect another 30 from today's elections, but maybe we'll again be pleasantly surprised." He said that though 100 or 120 representatives out of a total of some 2,700 Central Committee members sounds paltry, "even 30 members is a group with much power, given the ways of internal party politics..." Asked if his organization might be represented by a Knesset Member in the coming Knesset, Puah said, "We have a good chance for more than one, if we act wisely."
Final election results are due to be released this week, and the Likud's first Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Oct 23-25.