Kulanu

Kulanu
כולנו
Leader Moshe Kahlon
Founded 27 November 2014
Ideology Economic egalitarianism[1][2]
Consumerism[3][4]
Political position Center[5] to center-right[6]
Knesset
10 / 120
Election symbol
כ
Website
www.kulanu-party.co.il
Politics of Israel
Political parties
Elections

Kulanu (Hebrew: כולנו‎, lit. All of Us), also transliterated Koolanu,[7] is a political party in Israel led by Moshe Kahlon that focuses on economic and cost-of-living issues.[5]

History

The party was established on 27 November 2014 following months of speculation that Moshe Kahlon would form a new party after he took a break from politics in 2013.[8] Opinion polls in the summer of 2014 had suggested that a new party formed by Kahlon could win 5–8 seats in the Knesset. The official party organization forms listed as founders of the party: Kahlon; Orna Angel, architect and former Ehud Barak adviser and Labor Party official; and Avi Gabai, former Bezeq director-general.[9]

Although the party was initially nameless, on 10 December, it was announced that it would be called Kulanu.[10] In the week following its establishment, initial opinion polls put the new party at 10–13 seats.[10] Polls also projected that should Kulanu join a list with Yesh Atid, they could win 24 Knesset seats, the most of any list.[11] Kulanu leader Kahlon and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid both denied their parties would form a joint ticket.[12][13]

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly offered Kahlon the post of Finance Minister (as well as portfolios for others) in the next government if he agreed to a joint ticket with Likud, but Kahlon declined.[14] Nevertheless, on the day of the Israeli election, 17 March 2015, Likud admitted to having forged a recording of Kahlon promising to support Netanyahu, which was distributed to voters the night prior. Calling the forgery "criminal", Kahlon asked for an investigation by the election committee.[15]

2015 candidate list

The party's candidate list for the 2015 election is as follows.[16][17][18][19]

  1. Moshe Kahlon, former Likud MK, Kulanu party founder and chairman.
  2. Yoav Galant, retired IDF major general (remains in reserves), former head of IDF Southern Command.
  3. Eli Alaluf, former head of the Israel anti-poverty commission.[7] Alaluf was originally in the #8 spot, and Tsega Melaku, Ethiopian-born Israeli and Israel Radio broadcaster, was originally in the #3 spot. However, Melaku was disqualified by the Israeli Central Elections Committee because she did not resign from her state broadcasting position before the required hundred-day "cooling-off period" in advance of election day.[20][21][22]
  4. Michael Oren, former Israeli ambassador to the United States (2009-2013). Oren's candidacy was announced by Kahlon early, on 24 December 2014.[23][24]
  5. Rachel Azaria, deputy mayor of Jerusalem, feminist leader known for activism against exclusion of women.[25]
  6. Tali Ploskov, Moldovan-born Israeli, mayor of Arad, former member of Yisrael Beytenu.[26] (Eli Alaluf was formerly in the spot, but was moved to #3).
  7. Dr. Yifat Sasha-Biton, education expert and former Kiryat Shemona deputy mayor.
  8. Eli Cohen, accountant and vice president of Israel Land Development Company.
  9. Roy Folkman, former adviser to Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat.
  10. Meirav Ben Ari, attorney and Tel Aviv council member.
  11. Shai Babad, former CEO of Zim Integrated Shipping Services, former director-general of the Second Authority Broadcasting Company (resigned in December 2014 in order to run).[24]
  12. Akram Hasson, former Kadima party leader.[27]

Economist and professor Manuel Trajtenberg was reportedly asked by Kahlon to join his list, but Trajtenberg declined and chose to run with the Zionist Union alliance (the joint Labor and Hatnuah list) instead.[28]

Orna Angel and Hapoel Be'er Sheva chair Alona Barakat were speculated to be possible candidates with Kahlon but ultimately did not appear on the list.[24] Tsega Melaku, previously director of Israel Radio’s Reshet Alef station, author and an active member of Israel's Ethiopian community, joined the party and was initially named to its candidate list. She was disqualified, however, because she had not left her government position far enough in advance to meet the "cooling off" requirement.[29][30]

Politics and ideology

Kahlon is known for his support for egalitarian economics and for issues affecting the middle class, although he also maintains a strong working-class appeal. Born himself to an immigrant Libyan family of modest means, Kahlon's target base is lower-middle class Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.[31][32][33] He has posited Kulanu as a centrist party[34] and sought to appeal to both populist and socially liberal camps.[2]

As communications minister, he earned popularity by taking on Israel's wireless cartel and forcing them to lower mobile phone prices by introducing new competitors,[5] a move he hopes to replicate with the banking and real estate sectors.[33] His political focus is on poverty, income inequality, and the housing crisis.[35] His platform aims to break up both private and public monopolies,[36] and lower the high cost of living.[37] Traditionally known for a hard line on security matters, Kahlon has in more recent times suggested support for territorial compromise for a two-state solution.[5] He has said he is "a product of the Likud" but that his "worldview is center, slightly leaning to the right".[38] Within the Likud, he was known to be socially liberal.[5] Ari Shavit wrote in January 2015 that Kulanu had the potential to be the true successor to the national liberalism of Ze'ev Jabotinsky and Menachem Begin.[39] Kahlon has said his party represents the Likud of Begin, which according to him was socially conscious, had moderate positions, and took a pragmatic approach to peace.[36][40]

It is not clear with which political bloc his party is naturally allied.[1] Kahlon considers himself a longstanding member of both Israel's "national camp" and its "social camp".[41] While at times he has appeared to lean right on questions of national security, during a televised debate he and Zehava Galon, chairwoman of the left-wing Meretz, agreed that, due to their similar socioeconomic outlook, they could sit in the same coalition.[42][43] While campaigning in 2015, he would not say whether the party would endorse Benjamin Netanyahu or Isaac Herzog for prime minister, although he and his senior partners, Galant and Oren, were said to have privately preferred (or publicly hinted preference for) Herzog.[41][44][45] Kahlon's platform is vaguely centrist, and he said he would join any government committed to social justice that would make him finance minister. Although he "flirted heavily" with Herzog's Zionist Union during the campaign, political observers assessed it may be awkward for the former Likud minister to crown the opposition without it having a sufficient lead over Likud, which polls (incorrectly) had suggested would happen.[46][47][48]

Economic policy

Kulanu's detailed economic platform emphasizes reducing social disparities. The party supports the following proposals:[33]

Foreign policy

Despite once being part of the Likud's right-wing flank, Kahlon's diplomatic platform is more moderate.[49] Kahlon has said, "The real Likud knows how to make peace, to give up territory, and on the other hand is conservative and responsible."[50] He sees Palestinian actions against Israel at international agencies as inconsistent with those of a partner for peace, but says Kulanu would support a diplomatic solution to the conflict.[51]

The addition of Michael Oren to the party brought foreign policy credentials to the list, though Kulanu prioritizes reducing the cost of living and not the peace process. Oren supports freezing growth outside the major settlement blocs to keep the prospects of a two-state solution alive while making efforts to improve conditions in the West Bank.[52] He criticized the Netanyahu government's January 2015 decision to issue construction tenders for commercial facilities in the West Bank, adding that it would not help Israel's ability to defend itself or amass international support.[53] Although he has said there is currently no viable Palestinian negotiating partner (since the sides cannot agree on terms), Oren believes that the status quo is nevertheless unsustainable and that efforts must be made to lay the groundwork for a final status agreement and a Palestinian state.[54] He shares Netanyahu's position on Iran, but opposed both Netanyahu's speech to the U.S. Congress on the issue (which he said should be canceled)[55] and his criticism of the U.S. president's handling of the nuclear negotiations.[54]

Other issues

Kulanu supports the following:

It opposes the following:

20th Knesset

The party competed for the first time in the election for the 20th Knesset of Israel. It became the fifth-largest party, earning 315,202 votes, or 7.49% of the total votes cast. The party's showing earned it 10 mandates in the 120 member Knesset.[61]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Two Israeli parties join forces against Netanyahu". Associated Press. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Israel election: Who are the key candidates?, BBC (14 March 2015)
  3. ↑ Bernard Avishai, Kerry's Miscalculation on the U.N. Palestine Resolutions, The New Yorker, 31 December 2014
  4. ↑ Jacob Wirtschafter, Israel’s election: It’s the economy, stupid, Jewish Journal, 16 March 2015
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Aron Heller (3 December 2014). "Ex-Netanyahu ally looks to be Israeli kingmaker". Associated Press. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  6. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/live/israel-elections-vote-results/moshe-kahlon-likely-power-broker-it-is-not-the-time-for-rifts/
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Niv Elis. "Anti-poverty advocate Alalouf joins Kahlon's Koolanu". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  8. ↑ Adiv Sterman (3 December 2014). "Popular ex-Likud minister launches new party". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  9. ↑ Gil Hoffman (11 December 2014). "Kahlon officially registers new Kulanu party". The Jerusalem Post.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Melanie Lidman (10 December 2014). "Ex-Likud minister Kahlon to call his new party Kulanu". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  11. ↑ Yossi Verter (17 December 2014). "Haaretz poll: Joint Lapid-Kahlon ticket would be largest Knesset list". Haaretz. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  12. ↑ Gil Hoffman (16 December 2014). "Lapid denies offering top slot to Kahlon". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  13. ↑ "Kahlon said to refuse merger with Lapid". The Times of Israel. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  14. ↑ Yossi Verter, Kahlon declined Netanyahu's offer of treasury in exchange for merger, Haaretz, January 29, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Likud forged recording of Kahlon support". Jerusalem Post. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  16. ↑ Jeremy Saltan, Candidates for Knesset Lists in English, Jeremy's Knesset Insider, January 21, 2015.
  17. ↑ Haarez, Israel election updates / Kulanu, Habayit Hayehudi present election lists, January 15, 2015.
  18. ↑ Moran Azulay, Kahlon reveals Kulanu party list ahead of elections, January 15, 2015, Ynet News.
  19. ↑ Niv Elis, Kahlon unveils diverse Koolanu list, vows to close social gaps, 'Jerusalem Post, January 15, 2015.
  20. ↑ Tamar Pileggi (12 January 2015). "Ethiopian-born Tsega Melaku joins Kahlon's party". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  21. ↑ Roi Mandel, Ethiopian born Tsega Melaku disqualified from running on Kahlon's list, Ynet News, January 26, 2015.
  22. ↑ Niv Elis, Central Election C'tee disqualifies Koolanu's No. 3, Tsega Melaku, from running in election, Jerusalem Post, January 26, 2015
  23. ↑ Justin Jalil (24 December 2014). "Ex-envoy to US Michael Oren joins new Kulanu party". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Israel elections updates / Only 37 newbies sign up to run in Labor primaries". Haaretz. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  25. ↑ Lazar Berman (6 January 2015). "Rachel Azaria joins Kahlon's Kulanu party". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  26. ↑ Lahav Harkov & Jeremy Sharon, 26 parties submit final lists for election, Jerusalem Post, January 30, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Mofaz: My Biggest Mistake Was Joining Netanyahu's Coalition". Israel National News. 1 February 2015.
  28. ↑ Jonathan Lis; Lior Dattel (18 December 2014). "Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg to join Labor list in 2015 election". Haaretz. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  29. ↑ Ethiopian-born Tsega Melaku joins Kahlon’s party Times of Israel 12 Jan 2015
  30. ↑ Ethiopian born Tsega Melaku disqualified from running on Kahlon's list YNET, 26 Jan 2015
  31. ↑ David Makovsky (February 19, 2015). "Multipolar Israeli Race Boosts Netanyahu's Electoral Chances". Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
  32. ↑ Joshua Mitnick (January 9, 2015). "Israel elections 101: How fractures on political right could hurt Netanyahu". Christian Science Monitor.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Moti Bassok, Kahlon, Israel's likely future finance minister, expected to focus on housing, bank reform, Haaretz (March 20, 2015)
  34. ↑ Naomi Zeveloff, Are Kahlon and His New Party Here To Stay or a Passing Fad?, The Forward (Published March 29, 2015, issue of April 03, 2015)
  35. ↑ Aron Heller (March 17, 2015). "In close Israel vote, leader of upstart centrist party is kingmaker". AP.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Zvi Zrahiya, Kahlon comes out against monopolies both public and private, Haaretz, 28 December 2014
  37. ↑ Dan Perry (4 December 2014). "Israel's election a referendum on Netanyahu". Associated Press. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  38. ↑ Moran Azulay (10 December 2014). "Moshe Kahlon unites faction under 'togetherness' banner". Ynetnews. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  39. ↑ Ari Shavit (January 1, 2015). "Longing for Likud". Haaretz.
  40. ↑ Aron Donzis, Popular ex-Likud minister slams old party, plans political comeback, Times of Israel, 8 April 2014
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Itamar Sharon (March 13, 2015). "Kahlon: Government has failed, should ‘clear the way’". The Times of Israel.
  42. ↑ Kahlon responds to Haaretz readers: I support 2-state solution, but no point now, Haaretz (March 9, 2015)
  43. ↑ Israel election updates / Israeli political leaders face off in TV debate, Haaretz (February 26, 2015)
  44. ↑ Niv Elis (March 11, 2015). "Kahlon says he, not Galant, will decide on Liberman alliance". The Jerusalem Post.
  45. ↑ Bernard Avishai, Israel's New Political Center, The New Yorker, 16 March 2015
  46. ↑ Dan Perry (March 18, 2015). "AP ANALYSIS: Advantage Netanyahu in close race". AP.
  47. ↑
  48. ↑ Bernard Avishai, Netanyahu's Compromised Victory, The New Yorker, 18 March 2015
  49. ↑ Editorial (March 18, 2015). "Kahlon must thwart establishment of extreme right-wing government". Haaretz.
  50. ↑ "Rising star Kahlon says he would give up land for peace". The Times of Israel. December 5, 2014.
  51. ↑ Niv Elis & Lahav Harkov, Kahlon wants to be finance minister, Jerusalem Post, 14 January 2015
  52. ↑ Ben Sales (2015-02-09). "Michael Oren lends foreign policy bona fides to new Israeli party Kulanu". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
  53. ↑ Chaim Levinson, Nir Hasson, Barak Ravid and Haaretz (2015-01-30). "Israel issues tenders for 450 West Bank settlement units". Haaretz.
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 Aron Heller, Netanyahu's former US envoy now among his Israeli rivals, Associated Press (March 9, 2015)
  55. ↑ Jodi Rudoren, Netanyahu Talk Stirs Backlash in Israeli Race, New York Times (January 27, 2015)
  56. ↑ Jonathan Beck (2015-02-02). "Kulanu’s Oren announces support for same-sex marriage". The Times of Israel.
  57. ↑ Jeremy Sharon, Kulanu backs civil unions says party candidate Rachel Azaria Jerusalem Post, 12 March 2015
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 Ilan Lior, Kahlon: There is no Palestinian partner for peace, Jerusalem will remain unified, Haaretz, 14 January 2015
  59. ↑ Joshua Davidovich (March 11, 2015). "Not exactly out of left field". The Times of Israel.
  60. ↑ Jonathan Lis, Kulanu balks at Likud demand to weaken Israel's Supreme Court, Haaretz, 21 April 2015
  61. ↑ http://bechirot20.gov.il/election/english/kneset20/Pages/results20_eng.aspx

External links