Israel’s Kahlon Positions Himself as Center-Right Peace Candidate

Former Likud Minister Says 'Real Likud' Would Cede Territory for Peace

Former Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon looks to be a major player in the March Israeli elections, as he laid out his political positions today in anticipations of establishing a new political party.

Kahlon split off from Likud back in 2013, and says he considers his position “center, a little right.” In contrast to the increasingly rightward shift of Likud, Kahlon is positioning himself as a pro-peace candidate who “won’t miss an opportunity for real peace” with the Palestinians.

Even though Kahlon hasn’t officially unveiled his new party, it is already polling as a relatively major faction for the March vote, and could wind up a kingmaker in the battle between the right and the center-left.

Kahlon insisted that the “real Likud knew how to make peace,” and said that his policies represent the “core Likud,” in contrast to the current Likud leadership.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.