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Kahlon would join Netanyahu Government

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Kulanu Party leader Moshe Kahlon has backtracked from previous statements yesterday and said he would now serve in a Netanyahu Government, even if the Prime Minister is indicted by the Attorney General for corruption.

Speaking at a conference in Jerusalem, Kahlon said that he would join a Government led by Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu: “If he has a majority, and if he doesn’t have a majority, we’ll give him a majority”. He added: “We worked well together, I don’t see why we shouldn’t continue working together. Our bloc is very strong.” In the past Kahlon had said that Netanyahu could not continue to lead the country if he is indicted in the corruption investigations.

Referring to Israel Resilience Party chairman Benny Gantz, Kahlon said they were “not in the same league” as the current Prime Minister and Likud.

The Likud and Israel Resilience Party launched new campaign videos yesterday accusing each other of being unfit to lead the country ahead of the April elections. Likud referred to Gantz as weak and leftist and mocked him for being tall enough to be able to hide left-wing candidates on his list. That video followed the release of a Likud campaign video on Monday blaming Gantz for the decision not to send a rescue mission for a Druze border policeman who bled to death in 2000 after being shot in clashes with the Palestinians in the West Bank. The brother of the officer subsequently demanded that Netanyahu and his party refrain from politicising his death.

The Israel Resilience Party released several campaign videos attacking Netanyahu as a selfish leader and slamming his security credentials and criticising his policy on Gaza. One video, set against footage of Israeli civilians living close to the Gaza border rushing to bomb shelters as sirens blare, slams the Prime Minister for paying $15m per month to “Hamas murderers,” while “forsaking Israel’s southern residents”.

The Israeli media are reporting that the Jewish Home Party will shortly merge with the National Union Party. Jewish Home leader Rabbi Rafi Peretz said he views the head of the National Union, Bezalel Smotrich, as a “brother” and vowed that the Jewish Home and National Union would run together. “The negotiations are advancing. There is no other option besides a joint run,” he said.

In the latest opinion poll published by Channel 13 News, Likud are predicted to win 32 seats, Israel Resilience 21 seats, Yesh Atid 11 seats, Labor eight seats, the New Right eight seats, United Torah Judaism seven seats, Arab Renewal seven seats, Joint Arab List six seats, Shas six seats, Kulanu five seats, Meretz five seats and Yisrael Beteinu four seats.