International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Nov. 29, 2002

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will remain the head of the Likud faction after an election rout in which he bested his chief rival and Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Thursday's party primary by 16 percentage points, 56 to 40 percent.

American-born long-shot Moshe Feiglin, a leading anti-Oslo activist, got about 4 percent of the vote.

The elections, held on a day when terror attacks in Beit She'an and Kenya captured the nation's attention, went on as scheduled and concluded as predicted.

Even with the loss, Netanyahu secures the No. 2 place on the Likud list since he garnered more than 30% of the vote. But the large margin of defeat casts doubt on whether he can secure the leadership of the party when the older Sharon steps aside.

Because of the day's somber events, Sharon canceled his victory celebration.

The voter turnout was between 45 and 50 percent, a low participation rate. The paltry showing worried Sharon, who called a rare press conference amid the breaking news of fresh terror strikes and called on Likud members to turn out to vote.

"Israel is facing a murderous terrorist attack. Terror does not look for reason to kill Jews," he said. "But today it has an additional goal, the goal of the Arab terror today is to influence the electoral and democratic process in Israel."

After he conceded defeat, Netanyahu said he was ready to work together with Sharon and that there are no factions inside the Likud. He also hinted that he wants to stay on as foreign minister, a post he accepted just weeks ago.

"It is our right and obligation to demand from the world that they not only send condolences when we bury our dead, but also to support us when we fight for our lives and very existence. I intend to continue contributing to this effort," he said.

Netanyahu's decision to serve as interim foreign minister under Sharon until the January national elections curtailed his freedom to speak out more forcefully against the sitting prime minister's policies, while also feeding the impression among many Likud voters that he belonged in the number two position for now.