Former Likud party MK Moshe Feiglin has announced the launching of his new party, ‘Zehut (Identity) – A Jewish Israeli Movement’, which was officially registered as a party on Thursday, 29 Tammuz.

Feiglin, who headed an internal Likud opposition for years, the Manhigut Yehudit (Jewish Leadership) faction, was finally elected to the 19th Knesset, where he served as a deputy speaker. However, his position on the party roster in the primaries for the 20th Knesset was too low for him to return. He has since resigned as a member of the Likud and while he is outside of Knesset, he is apparently not done with politics.

Feiglin is already working as he plans to have his new party among the contenders for a position in the 21st Knesset, among those who believe the current coalition government will not complete a four-year term. Feiglin supporters have been working hard to overcomes legal obstacles and meet all the requirements to have his party listed among the official political parties, and thereby eligible to run in the next Knesset elections.

Feiglin backers explain his party is unprecedented as he is appealing to a wide electorate and is not a sectoral party by any means. He promises transparency and hopes to receive funding from the masses, unlike some parties, which are funded by tycoons and the party in turn is beholden to their interests. He explains that hundreds of donations have already come in, the largest being NIS 500.

Party leaders hope to launch a nationwide registration campaign in the coming weeks, which will be followed by a founding kenos of registered members.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)