BICOM

Newcomer Moshe Kahlon has announced a number of parliamentary candidates for his Kulanu (“All of us”) Party, including several prominent social activists and a former Israeli Ambassador to the United States.

Former Communications Minister Kahlon quit the Likud Party two years ago, having been widely credited with overseeing a sharp reduction in mobile communications costs to the public. He is viewed as a champion of socio-economic reform and has vowed to introduce greater competition and reduce costs in other markets too. Kahlon is regarded as a largely centrist candidate and would likely join a government led by either of the two frontrunners, Likud leader and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or the joint Labour-Hatnuah list headed by Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni. As a result, some believe Kahlon could hold the balance of power in coalition talks following the 17 March election.

Kulanu’s socio-economic credentials have been further boosted by the recent announcement that social activist Eli Alaluf and education campaigner Yifat Sasha-Biton, a former-Deputy Mayor of Kiryat Shmona are Kulanu parliamentary candidates. Kahlon announced yesterday that they will be joined by Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Rachel Azaria, who during her time in office has advocated women’s rights and childhood education. She said yesterday, “Moshe knows how to create change, has done much to help the citizens of Israel and he knows how to improve their day-to-day lives.”

Kulanu’s diplomatic credentials were bolstered by the candidacy of Michael Oren, Israel’s former Ambassador to the US, announced last month. It is also rumoured that Kahlon will today announce that former IDF Major General Yoav Galant is joining Kulanu. Galant was considered a serious contender as IDF Chief of Staff and would bring significant security credentials to the Kulanu list.

Last week, Kahlon indicated that he would seek to become Housing Minister, with the cost of housing a major issue for many Israelis. He told a conference that Kulanu “has set itself a target: that the Israel Lands Authority will be in its hands.”