Netanyahu loyalists win Likud ballot for Israel election

Benjamin Netanyahu loyalists won leading places on Likud's candidate list for Israel's October 27 election, strengthening the prime minister's control over his right-wing party before a tight national vote.

The top 10 names on Likud's slate include seven ministers, the parliament speaker and the coalition whip, all considered close to Netanyahu. Energy Minister Eli Cohen, a former foreign minister, secured first place behind Netanyahu.

Cohen previously faced a police investigation over allegations that he improperly issued diplomatic passports to Likud loyalists, including Netanyahu's son.

Likud said Netanyahu was pleased with the results of Monday's primaries and congratulated those elected. The party said about 140,000 members were eligible to choose candidates.

Netanyahu has also reserved about 10 places on the list for people he chooses directly. Likud said those appointments would further strengthen the list and help the party seek what it called a broad national government after the election.

The primaries were seen as a test of Netanyahu's grip on Likud and as an audition for possible successors, although Netanyahu has given no indication that he plans to leave politics.

Netanyahu, 76, is Israel's longest-serving prime minister. AFP cited polls predicting that Likud could fall from 32 seats to as low as 22 in the 120-seat parliament.

Netanyahu leads the most right-wing government in Israeli history. He is also Israel's first prime minister to face a criminal trial, with several corruption charges against him. He denies wrongdoing. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Israel's offensive in Gaza, allegations he denies.