PM Netanyahu claims victory in party primary

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday claimed a solid victory over his sole opponent for the leadership of his Likud party, bolstering his position ahead of possible early elections.

Netanyahu, who had been expected to sail to victory in the primary, reportedly garnered around 75 percent of the vote, easily beating a challenge from hardline settler Moshe Feiglin.

The result will shore up Netanyahu's position within his own party, commentators said, raising the prospect that general elections scheduled for late 2013 would be moved up, possibly before US presidential elections in November.