Victory in hand, Netanyahu to 'protect' Likud from Feiglin

MK Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to consider steps to limit the strength of Moshe Feiglin's Jewish Leadership faction in Likud after Netanyahu won the party's primary yesterday.

"Likud as a democratic movement has to find ways to protect itself," a source close to Netanyahu said.

"There is no choice but to find ways to stop the phenomenon. There is a problematic situation here. A group that is not an integral part of Likud is trying to dictate its agenda. There are communities that do not have even one Likud voter but have dozens or hundreds of Likud members."

Feiglin's people do not seem to be concerned by the statements. Feiglin, who until recently was considered an extremist and bizarre leader, was in good spirits yesterday.

"Jewish leadership should be placed at the head of the nationalist camp and that begins today," he told reporters, adding that "even if it doesn't happen this time, there will be other campaigns."

Netanyahu said he will now begin the real battle for the premiership.

Netanyahu's first act is expected to be a public call to Labor Chairman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak to make good on his promise during the Labor primary to agree a date for national elections immediately after the release of the final Winograd report on last summer's Lebanon War.