Gaydamak still wants to be Mayor of Jerusalem, and still plans to run for that position in the next election.

Arcadi Gaydamak is ending his “civilian” status on Monday and will officially become a politician, with his signature on the document registering his new Social Justice Party. 

 

After a year in which he spent millions of dollars on projects to help Israeli refugees from the Second Lebanon War as well as those fleeing the onslaught of rocket attacks from Gaza terrorists in the south, Gaydamak will take his activities into a new arena.

 

The Russian-born Israeli billionaire announced he will register the new political party under his Hebrew name, Aryeh Bar Lev and become its chairman.  However, he said, he does not intend to run for a seat in the Knesset.

 

Gaydamak still wants to be Mayor of Jerusalem, and still plans to run for that position in the next election.

 

He will, however, run candidates from his new party for the Knesset and positions in the government, including the Prime Minister’s seat. Gaydamak is hoping to win 20 Knesset seats with the party’s first foray into the political arena.

 

The first official meeting of the Social Justice Party is slated to be held on Thursday in Jerusalem. Thus far, the billionaire says he can count some 1,400 supporters for the new party, which spokesman David Nerodetsky, an attorney, characterizes as “a socio-economic party.” 

 

The party platform states that it will work to preserve Israel’s democratic values, promote equality between all citizens and protect human dignity and freedom.  Social Justice will also support the right to vote for Israelis living abroad and push for the establishment of an ‘enlightened welfare state, while granting direct aid to the weaker sectors,’ among other goals.

 

The Social Justice charter, however, reflects a less than democratic character, with Gaydamak retaining complete control of the party. The business mogul will be the final authority to decide who will run as candidates and for which positions, as well as whether the party will join or abandon a government coalition.