Itongadol.- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday praised the list that Likud voters chose in Wednesday\’s primary, saying that Likud\’s democratic primary elections were superior to the "dictatorships" in other parties.
"According to early returns it seems that the Likud has chosen an excellent list," Netanyahu said at the party\’s Tel Aviv headquarters after about half of the primary votes had been counted.
"Democracy wins over dictatorship," Netanyahu told party activists. The democracy in the Likud is much stronger than other fly by night parties who don\’t vote for their lists, he said.
Netanyahu called the list a balanced and experienced group that would help lead the state to success.
He said that those on the list had experience and know-how in security, economics and were obligated to the social well-being of Israel\’s citizens.
Netanyahu said that this Likud list would defeat the Left led by Issac Herzog and Tzipi Livni.
"Our spirit is the true Likud spirit," he said.
With more than half of the primary votes counted, Netanyahu\’s list was led by Yuli Edelstein, Gilad Erdan, Yisrael Katz and Miri Regev.
Issac Herzog and Tzipi Livni said that the list chosen by Likud primary voters consisted of the same people who had brought the country to its current undesirable situation.
"The faces and names on the Likud list are the same faces and names that brought the country to a situation in which poverty is becoming worse, Israel is increasingly isolated and young couples can\’t buy an apartment."
The pair added in their statement that those who think that the Likud has turned its back on the well-being of the people, and believe a change is needed, should vote for Herzog-Livni.
"The list led by Herzog and Livni will bring social justice and save Israel from its international isolation, which severely hurts our security, economy and the welfare of our citizens," they added.