According to the daily Yediot Achronot, in addition to a measure of ideology, if one wishes to become a MK, one needs to do some serious fundraising. The report explains that in order to land a high ranking in the Likud or Labor parties for example, one does require significant financial backing.

According to figures released by the Office of the State Comptroller, the top 20 on the Labor list raised on the average 88,375 NIS to land the slot. Regarding those in the top ten of the list, they came up with 112,248 NIS.

The top 20 Likud candidates raised a combined 5,875,036 NIS (293,751 NIS each), almost four times their Labor counterparts.

The biggest fundraiser in Labor was Omar Bar-Lev, with 270,992 NIS, but that only bought him the 8th slot. In Likud, the big fundraiser was Minister of Homefront Defense Avi Dichter, with 581,504 NIS, but he did not make the list and will not be a Likud MK in the 19th Knesset.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)