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Kahlon open to peace agreement, sets out social agenda
In his first major media interviews since founding the Kulanu Party, Moshe Kahlon said that he supports a diplomatic agreement with the Palestinians if it strengthens Israel, but sees such an accord as currently unrealistic.
The former Likud Communications Minister also said he would consider joining a coalition headed by either Likud or the joint Labour-Hatnuah ticket. With current polling indicating that Kulanu could win around ten seats, Kahlon is a potentially significant kingmaker and a likely minister in the next government. His party, which is viewed as having a strong socio-economic agenda, also includes former IDF general Yoav Galant and former Ambassador to the US Michael Oren.
For the first time yesterday, Kahlon gave an indication of his diplomatic outlook, telling Army Radio, “I am a man who can support a diplomatic solution. At the moment, sadly, there’s no partner, but the second there will be a courageous person on the other side who can reach peace or a diplomatic solution, we will be there to support it.”
Adding more detail on a potential agreement, Kahlon said that Jerusalem should not be divided and that there can be no “right of return” for Palestinian refugees. Kahlon also said that Israel should not withdraw to the pre-1967 borders but instead annex the large West Bank settlement blocs, which most assume will remain part of Israel under any future peace deal. Summarising, Kahlon told Haaretz, “Any agreement that will strengthen Israel — the Kulanu party will be there to support it.”
Addressing socio-economics, he told Ynet, “In the last two years, the social issue has been ignored much more than it was in the past,” for which Kahlon blamed “Everyone who sat in this government,” including Prime Minister Netanyahu, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Jewish Home head Naftali Bennett. Speaking to Channel Ten, Kahlon said that he wants to be Finance Minister, explaining it will enable him to “deal with the housing crisis, the cost of living, the social and economic gaps in the State of Israel.”