Moshe Kahlon
Moshe KahlonFlash 90

Former Minister Moshe Kahlon confirmed that plans are in the work for a new political party on Monday, in a series of remarks regarding the cost of living controversy in Israel. 

"The cost of living is not an issue of fate, nor a decree from heaven," Kahlon stated in a meeting with representatives from the Institute of Independent Workers and Small Businesses. "This needs to be dealt with and if the Israeli government decides to, it will handle it." 

To that end, he said, "my colleagues and I intend to establish a new political framework with which we will take care of the issues we discussed [here]. It will happen before the next election." 

Kahlon, one of the most popular ministers in the last government, announced surprisingly before the last election that he was leaving politics.

Two days before the election, he was tapped by Netanyahu to head Israel Land Administration (ILA), but Netanyahu reneged on his promise after forming his new Cabinet.

Just as surprisingly, Kahlon announced his return in April, but indicated in a Yediot Aharonot interview at the time that it would be outside his former party, Likud. 

"I decided to return to politics, but I don't know in what framework," he said. "I have great difficulties returning to the Likud of today."

"The question is: what is Likud?" added Kahlon. "My Likud was really Menachem Begin's Likud, represented through a number of social principles: reducing the class gap, revitalizing [run-down] neighborhoods, educational and social rehabilitation."

"This was a pragmatic Likud, that knew how to make peace when it had to," he continued. "Likud was social sensitivity, Likud was compassion, Likud was caring for the weak. But this Likud no longer exists."

A Knesset Channel poll later revealed that Kahlon's party, if established, could win as many as 10 seats in the next election.