An interesting rising star is Moshe Kahlon who left the Likud before the elections in 2013, reportedly because of disagreements with Netanyahu. As communications minister he is credited with lowering cellphone call prices by increasing competition.
His newly formed party, “Kulanu” (all of us) has already drawn former Israeli ambassador to the US Michael Oren as a prominent member and several polls indicate that the party could win 10-13 seats by attracting among others traditional Likud voters. Kahlon has been reported to say
“I come from Likud. The real Likud knows how to make peace, to give up territory, and on the other hand is conservative and responsible. My world view is that of the real Likud that truly came and safeguarded the Land of Israel. When it needed to make peace with the greatest Arab nation (Egypt) it did so, and when it needed to compromise, it compromised.”
Some view Kahlon as a man who can work with the right, the center and the left and disenchantment with the present government is so deep that some party members have said they would consider switching their votes to Kahlon from years of die-hard support of their parties.
It will be interesting to observe the part this new element will play as the feverish wheeler-dealer coalition negotiations proceed.
