Israel's Labor party votes to elect Knesset candidates

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM

Opposition Labor Party held a primary election on Monday to select its candidates in Israel's general polls in April.

The vote is held as opinion surveys suggest that the party would grab only a handful of seats in the April 9 polls.

A total of 44 candidates are vying in the primaries, from which voters will select their preferred candidates to run in the Knesset (parliament) election.

Some 58,000 party members are eligible to cast ballot in Monday's vote. Official results are expected to be released on Tuesday.

The party has been facing a major decline in its popularity among Israeli voters in recent years.

"The Labor Party, which founded the State of Israel and governed it for decades, faces one of the greatest crises in its history,” commented Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot.

Recent surveys suggest that the Labor Party will win between five to seven seats in the 120-member parliament.