BICOM

A total of 26 parties registered candidates for the general election on 17 March as the deadline to submit electoral lists closed yesterday.

Ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism published their lists of candidates for the first time with no real surprises. Kulanu, led by Moshe Kahlon made a last-minute addition, slotting Arad Mayor Talia Ploskow into sixth place. Ploskow had previously been affiliated with Yisrael Beitenu.

However, the highest profile late change came from Likud, which added former Minister Benny Begin to its slate in 11th position, a slot reserved for a candidate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s choice. It had been reported yesterday that the 11th slot would be filled by Dr Anat Berko, an anti-terrorism expert at the Interdisciplinary Centre in Herzliya. Berko has instead been placed in 23^rd place with Begin making a surprise comeback. Son of former Prime Minister Menachem Begin, he has himself enjoyed a long political career, building a reputation as a moderate within Likud and a staunch defender of democracy. However, Begin did not achieve an electable slot on the party list prior to the 2013 election. The 71-year-old’s political career appeared over until yesterday’s surprise announcement. Netanyahu described Begin as “a true Israeli patriot and a Zionist to his core, who symbolizes the Likud.”

Meanwhile, Haaretz reports that talks took place between Likud and Moshe Kahlon’s Kulanu about forming a joint electoral list, to effectively rival the Zionist Camp list comprised of Labour and Hatnuah. However, Kahlon reportedly rejected an offer to become Finance Minister in the next government as part of a unity deal.

Two parties that did unite yesterday are former Shas leader Eli Yishai’s Yachad and the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party. Following protracted talks during which Yachad candidate and former-Jewish Home MK Yoni Cheitboun threatened to leave the list, an agreement was reached with Otzma Yehudit leader Baruch Marzel in fourth position. Polls have indicated that Yachad may struggle to reach the electoral threshold.