Afp, Jerusalem
Israel’s embattled premier Benjamin Netanyahu faced a challenge yesterday for the leadership of his Likud party from a longtime rival, former interior minister Gideon Saar.

Likud’s roughly 116,000 eligible voters have until 11 pm (2100 GMT) to choose between Netanyahu and Saar, with the result expected by early Friday morning.

A defeat for Netanyahu, 70, would be a shock, but even a relatively close result could weaken his influence over the conservative party he has dominated for 20 years.

After a decade in power, Netanyahu is Israel’s longest serving premier but he has been weakened by a series of corruption indictments.

After months of political stalemate, he faces a third general election within 12 months early next year -- but only if he first defeats his challenger.

Saar, 53, a former interior and education minister, is seen as slightly to the right of Netanyahu and has called for an even more hawkish policy towards the Palestinians.

On Wednesday evening Netanyahu was rushed off stage at a campaign event in Ashkelon in southern Israel near Gaza after alarms sounded indicating incoming fire from the Palestinian enclave.

Turnout was expected to be lower than previous primaries, the last of which was in 2014, as much of Israel was hit by winter storms, although it was unclear which of the candidates would benefit from this.

Only 18 percent of party members had voted by 1300 GMT, according to Likud figures.

The election comes after a troubled year for Israeli politics and the premier.