BICOM

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Danon, widely perceived as representing the right-wing of the party was last night elected as the Likud Party’s convention chairman.

Danon was chosen by 85 per cent of the votes, although only 27 per cent of those eligible to vote cast their ballots. Although the position of convention chairman is largely ceremonial, with the convention itself closing next week, Danon claimed a new era for Likud. He told party activists, “Today’s results will have one clear message: The Likud is returning to the field… We’ll bring back to Likud the living spirit, the young, ideological spirit.” Yesterday’s election was in essence a prelude to a more significant vote on Sunday, with Danon also standing to become chairman of the party’s influential central committee. The two candidates opposing Danon, both party activists, are considered to have little chance of defeating him.

Danon said yesterday that heading the various Likud Party institutions would not threaten the position of party chairman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, commenting “We don’t act against our party chairman.” Nonetheless, Danon’s growing influence within the party is being widely viewed as a challenge to Netanyahu and his policies. Danon attracted media attention recently by saying that the “The international community can say whatever they want” but that the Israeli government is “staunchly opposed to a two-state solution.” Danon’s claim is in direct opposition to the views of Netanyahu, who has repeatedly called for Palestinian leaders to begin talks immediately without pre-conditions.

The apparent popularity of Danon with the Likud Party though reflects not only an internal ideological battle. There is also frustration among Likud activists that their voice within the party has been sidelined. Some have complained of a lack of consultation with them during the campaign for January’s election, particularly over significant decisions such as the merger with Yisrael Beitenu.