Israel's embattled premier
Benjamin Netanyahu faced a challenge Thursday 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.