Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz has joined the Likud, and will run for a slot on its Knesset list. Although only five and a half months will have passed since his retirement from the IDF, two weeks short of the required six months before an army officer can enter politics, Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein ruled that the law can be interpreted "leniently" in this case. Four reasons were advanced for his decision: Six Jewish-calendar months will have passed before the start of the next Knesset; the elections were moved up suddenly; Mofaz did not initiate the move, but rather Prime Minister Ariel Sharon drafted him into his government; and Mofaz left his position as Chief of Staff on July 9, a month before his official retirement. Reports that six Jewish months will have passed before the elections are false; he retired from the army on the 3rd of Elul, which is five months and 22 days before the elections.
Other new names added to the list of those running for spots on the Likud Knesset list are Gideon Sa'ar, who resigned his position as Cabinet Secretary this week, and ex-Israeli consul in Washington Yoram Ettinger. Former Foreign Minister David Levy is expected to answer Prime Minister Sharon's call to return to the Likud. In such a case, he will bring along MK Moti Mishani, with whom he formed the Gesher party almost seven years ago.
Other new names added to the list of those running for spots on the Likud Knesset list are Gideon Sa'ar, who resigned his position as Cabinet Secretary this week, and ex-Israeli consul in Washington Yoram Ettinger. Former Foreign Minister David Levy is expected to answer Prime Minister Sharon's call to return to the Likud. In such a case, he will bring along MK Moti Mishani, with whom he formed the Gesher party almost seven years ago.