Labor MK Chaim Ramon, who is trailing in the race for his party leadership behind Mitzna and Ben-Eliezer, announced last night that he would not pull out of the race. The declaration flew in the face of much speculation to the contrary, and Israel Radio even reported briefly yesterday afternoon that he had decided to quit. Ramon reportedly fears being stuck with a quitter's reputation. Staffers in front-runner Amram Mitzna's campaign, where it had been hoped that Ramon would throw his support in order to guarantee the defeat of Ben-Eliezer, attacked Ramon, saying that he was concerned only with his own political career and not with what is good for the nation.
The Likud Knesset list is filling up, and among those running for a slot are former Israeli Ambassador to the US Zalman Shoval, ex-MKs Yossi Achimeir and Akiva Nof, Omri Sharon, Kiryat Malachi Mayor Lior Katzav, and Jerusalem attorney Roni Bar-On. Bar-On admitted to Arutz-7 today that part of his motivation stems from what was known as the Bar-On affair almost six years ago, when then-Prime Minister Netanyahu attempted, unsuccessfully, to appoint him as Attorney-General. "There is a part of me that would like to prove to all those who jumped on me at the time, that my appointment was blocked only because of my right-wing, Land of Israel philosophy," he said. Bar-On said that he would work for far-reaching changes in the judicial structure, and estimated that he would need the support of some 600-800 Central Committee members in order to attain a realistic spot on the list. Each of the some 2,800 members can vote for several candidates.
Shas MK David Tal announced today that he would not seek a spot on his party's Knesset list in the upcoming election. Tal, a supporter of Aryeh Deri, said he would not rule out joining another party - a reference to another Sephardic party that may be formed in the coming days in sympathy with Deri and with the backing of Kabbalist Rabbi Kadouri.
The Likud Knesset list is filling up, and among those running for a slot are former Israeli Ambassador to the US Zalman Shoval, ex-MKs Yossi Achimeir and Akiva Nof, Omri Sharon, Kiryat Malachi Mayor Lior Katzav, and Jerusalem attorney Roni Bar-On. Bar-On admitted to Arutz-7 today that part of his motivation stems from what was known as the Bar-On affair almost six years ago, when then-Prime Minister Netanyahu attempted, unsuccessfully, to appoint him as Attorney-General. "There is a part of me that would like to prove to all those who jumped on me at the time, that my appointment was blocked only because of my right-wing, Land of Israel philosophy," he said. Bar-On said that he would work for far-reaching changes in the judicial structure, and estimated that he would need the support of some 600-800 Central Committee members in order to attain a realistic spot on the list. Each of the some 2,800 members can vote for several candidates.
Shas MK David Tal announced today that he would not seek a spot on his party's Knesset list in the upcoming election. Tal, a supporter of Aryeh Deri, said he would not rule out joining another party - a reference to another Sephardic party that may be formed in the coming days in sympathy with Deri and with the backing of Kabbalist Rabbi Kadouri.