Likud Minister of Communications & Social Welfare Moshe Kahlon is signaling that he may go it alone, launching his own party based on encouraging polls. Kahlon recently announced his resignation from Likud, explaining he will not be running for a place in the next Knesset because it is “time to move on”. He told supporters that he simply does not see eye-to-eye with government economic policies. He has since maintained a prominent place in the local media, gaining support as the underdog, a person who grew up in a poor community and extricated himself from that situation, but remaining loyal to those in a similar position today.
Kahlon is expected to make a decision in the coming days and he has already told close associates that if he runs on his own ticket, he would oppose Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s economic policies despite the close relationship they once enjoyed. Those close to Kahlon add that it is painfully clear that following the agreement between Likud and Yisrael Beitenu, to run under a combined list, the next government’s economic and social policies will be “brutal, aggressive and capitalistic.”
Interestingly, a poll conducted earlier in the week by the Rafi Smith Institute signals a party headed by Kahlon would get 20 seats. More surprising is the fact the poll adds that if Kahlon joins forces with former Kadima leader Tzipi Livni, he would earn an additional six seats.
It is unclear what direction he will take but he is without a popular political figure today, and some polls show that if he joins the Labor Party, it would earn 32 seats.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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Add this poll to the polls showing the Likud Lieberman merger gaining seats and add that to the polling showing Yair Lapid gaining seats and add that to the polling showing the Deri Yishai merger gaining seats and add that to the polling showing Ehud Olmert gaining seats should he choose to run and one thing becomes apparent their are more seats being offered up by the pollsters than actual seats in the Knesset.