Incumbent Israeli Labor chief Merav Michaeli scored ​​​​a landslide victory yesterday in the party’s leadership primaries, coming out with 82.48% of the votes versus mere 16.6% for her rival Eran Hermoni. It was the first time a sitting Labor chief has been reelected in 30 years, ever since the party started holding open primaries. On Aug. 9, the party is scheduled to hold primaries for its Knesset list ahead of the Nov. 1 general elections.

While Michaeli’s victory did not come as a surprise, it presented an important achievement for her, reasserting not only her leadership of her party, but also her status within the center-left political camp. Her reelection makes for a refreshing change in a party known for turning against its own leaders, as Michaeli’s predecessors Amir Peretz, Shelly Yachimovich, Avi Gabbay and even Israel’s President Isaac Herzog can testify.

Israeli Labor was the first party to hold leadership elections ahead of Nov. 1 and judging by recent polls, Michaeli might find herself the only woman leader. One of Meretz's former leaders — Zehava Gal-On — might very well take back her leadership position, but polls suggest the party might not pass the Knesset entry threshold. The same is true for Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, now leading Yamina.  

Michaeli has little time to enjoy her victory, as difficult decisions lie ahead. The electoral system in Israel, requiring at least four Knesset seats for a party to enter the Knesset, makes for very simple math. If any of the center-left parties do not pass that threshold, opposition head Benjamin Netanyahu stands a greater chance of winning. Currently, the center-left camp is divided into several parties and the split could spell political disaster.