MK Shaul Mofaz recruited hareidi-religious Jews to join Kadima and enlarge his support base within the party, Channel 10 reported Wednesday. Mofaz's people gave registrants 50 shekels each -- the money needed for registration. This payment, the channel said, is illegal.
One of the new members told the channel: "A friend of mine came to me and asked me if I want to join Kadima as a member. All I had to do was sign and he paid the sum that needs to be paid for joining."
Another member said that he did not want to join at first but when he was offered money, he agreed.
The person behind the initiative to register hareidis is reportedly Yaakov ("Yanki") Bichler, a hareidi PR person who is politically close to Mofaz.
One hareidi man said that he was offered financial incentives to bring other people into the fold. "They promised me that if I bring 10 members I would get a bonus and if I bring 50 people to join they will arrange a meeting for me with Mofaz."
MK Mofaz's bureau responded by saying: "MK Mofaz supports any membership drive as long as it is free, personal and voluntary – in accordance with the law and with party rules. If there is evidence of an illegal drive, the authorities must be contacted at once and those involved must face the full force of the law."
Yaakov Bichler said that paying an activist for adding members to a political party is allowed. He insisted, however, that he had paid no one.