At least one terror victim, and possibly two, will announce Monday night plans to run for a place on the Likud list of candidates for the next Knesset, according to Almagor terror victims' association leader Meir Indor. He said the candidate is a widely-known public figure who has an excellent chance to win a preferred place in the party primaries, but he declined to name him. A second terror victim will decide later Monday afternoon whether to join the race.
Indor, a former senior IDF officer and activist in bringing overseas volunteers to help the IDF, also revealed that the candidates, if elected, will alternate with other terror victims every few months to show that no one is trying "to hold on to a Knesset seat."
He compared the novel procedure to that of reservist soldiers, who take over for each other on duty. Indor explained that the move into politics reflects a "disappointment in the political system and a desire it repair the political culture in Israel."
Their objective is to organize "against pressure from Hamas that Israel free terrorists as gestures to the Palestinian Authority or in return for the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Amongst the terrorists are those who ordered or carried out suicide bombings" at hotels, restaurants and on buses.
Their objective is to organize 'against pressure from Hamas' that Israel free terrorists in return for the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
Indor also stated that Likud party chairman Binyamin Netanyahu told him he would take "certain measures" to bring about the release of Shalit. The Likud leader related that Israel did not surrender to terrorists who staged the kidnapping in Entebbe in 1976. Netanyahu's brother Yoni was the only soldier killed in the counterterrorist operation.
Terror victims "are disappointed at the lengthy silence of politicians" concerning Shalit and their apathy during the captivity of kidnapped IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, Indor added. Including terror victims in the political system can improve the quality of the party because they generally are more serious personalities than professional politicians, he explained.
Several groups of terror victims are banding together to set up their own party, a move which will give them free campaign time on the state-run television and radio networks. Indor said the new party will dissolve itself as the date for new elections draws if it appears it will not receive the minimum number of votes needed for Knesset representation.
Among the new Likud members who have already announced their candidacies is former Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Uzi Dayan. Although he is not a victim of terror, he fought to secure the release of Goldwasser and Regev and is conducting a media campaign on behalf of Shalit.