Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's win in the Likud party primaries drew reactions from both the Right and the Left after the results were announced late Thursday night.
Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said, "I congratulate the prime minister on his decisive victory in the primaries for the Likud leadership. Despite the [winter] weather, Likud members went out and expressed unequivocal support for the prime minister. Likud members voted for strong, responsible, experienced leadership that will lead the Likud to victory in the upcoming [Knesset] election, too. Now is the time to unite, close ranks, and work as one to secure a victory for the Likud and lead Israel toward a safe and prosperous future."
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Likud MK Nir Barkat said, "Now that the primaries are behind us, I am calling on you, Gideon Sa'ar, to join us in the real fight for a Likud victory in the election and to build a right-wing government under Benjamin Netanyahu."
MK Shlomo Karhi said that Judaism's mystical system of numerology, known as gematria, foretold a victory for Netanyahu. "The numbers associated with the [Hebrew letters in] 'Benjamin Netanyahu' and 'decisive victory' add up to 1037, which represents the fifth Hanukkah candle," Karhi declared.
Shas leader Aryeh Deri also congratulated Netanyahu: "As a partner, I am happy about the vote of confidence you received … We will preserve the right-wing bloc and, with God's help, build a strong right-wing government that will protect the nation's Jewish character."
The left-wing Labor-Gesher list issued a statement that "The results point to the Likud's detachment from the people. The popular movement that Menachem Begin once headed has elected a leader under indictment on three serious counts. The popular, governing Likud officially came to an end today."
