Professor Uriel Reichman, founder of the Shinui movement and president of the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, announced Tuesday that he will join Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's new party Kadima.
Reichman received an offer to join the party as its candidate for education minister. He is expected to be involved in efforts to change Israel's governance system, according to the party's platform.
Due to Reichman's educational experience and rich academic experience, Kadima officials decided that he would be the party's candidate for education minister.
Reichman was one of the main supporters of changing Israel's election system to direct elections, which totally failed in Israel and were changed back to the old system a few years later. He now supports a presidential rule.
Reichman has been negotiating with Sharon for a long time. His aides told Ynet that "he is not interested in a Knesset seat. He wants to contribute on the national level."
Reichman founded the Shinui movement, and was the person who recruited former journalist Yosef Lapid to head the movement in 1999. He still serves as president of Shinui.
Political sources estimated that Reichman's move to Sharon's party will constitute a heavy blow to Shinui's public status.
Attila Somfalvi contributed to the report
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