Eli Cohen Leads Likud Primary in First Counted Ballots, Reversing the Exit Sample

Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen led the Likud slate after the first ballot boxes from Monday's primary were counted. One count, with 11 percent of ballot boxes tallied, placed Eli Cohen first, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana second and Justice Minister Yariv Levin third, followed by Ofir Katz, Miri Regev and Amichai Chikli. A later report, after 14 percent of votes were counted, again showed Eli Cohen ahead. The partial returns reverse Monday night's exit sample, which had put Ohana first, Levin second and Eli Cohen third. Ballots are counted at local committees and rechecked at a central control center in Jaffa, with final results expected Tuesday morning.