Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir early Friday handily defeated rivals David Levy and Ariel Sharon in balloting to determine who would head the ruling Likud Party's ticket for the June national elections.
With his selection by the party's central committee to run for re-election, Shamir will face Yitzhak Rabin, the former premier and defense minister, who won the Labor Party's nomination in Wednesday's primary election.Shamir garnered 46 percent of the ballots from some 3,100 members of the central committee who participated in the selection process.
Levy, the foreign minister who has quarreled often with Shamir, was second with 33 percent of the vote and Sharon, the maverick right-wing housing minister, trailed with 21 percent.
Shamir addressed the committee members at the vast Tel Aviv fairgrounds complex shortly after 1 a.m. to declare victory. His speech was punctuated by singing from his supporters.
"The faith you put in me today is not just a great honor, it is a tremendous responsibility I carry on my shoulders," Shamir said.
"We are entering into a momentous contest with the Labor Party to determine the future direction of this country," he said.
Levy and Sharon both conceded and expressed their desire to show unity against Rabin and the Labor Party.
Rabin, who has a reputation as a hawk in security matters, has said he hopes to draw away large numbers of the Likud's right-wing voters. He takes credit for bringing Israeli troops home from a seemingly endless war in Lebanon while serving as defense minister from 1984 to 1986.