Likud's Silvan Shalom – considered a moderate
Photo: Reuters
Likud officials: Too many rightists on party list
Senior party members concerned over polls indicating Likud list to be dominated by disengagement objectors, with almost no representation for candidates of Mideastern descent
Senior Likud officials are increasingly concerned after polls published ahead of the elections showed the party list will likely be dominated by staunch rightists, with no newcomers and almost no candidates of Middle-Eastern descent to speak of, Israel's leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Tuesday.
According to a poll, conducted by the Dahaf Institute and Dr. Mina Tzemach and published by Yedioth Ahronoth Monday, nine out of the top 15 candidates on the Likud list are Knesset members who opposed the disengagement plan and are against the establishment of a Palestinian state.
A senior party member warned that the Likud this may allow opponents to portray as an anti-peace party.
"Except for (Foreign Minister) Silvan Shalom and (Knesset Member) Michael Eitan, no other candidates on the list supported the disengagement. If we want to take away more votes from Kadima, we have to present more moderate people," the official said.
Another senior official said in closed-door meetings that "we want to regain 20 Knesset seats that defected to Kadima, and it is obvious that they are in favor of the disengagement plan."
"The Likud must express itself in a moderate and reasonable way to people who want to support a centerist party and not a right-wing party," the official added.
'Public not looking for radical way'
Shlomo Madmon, member of the Likud Central Committee, claimed that "if the Likud does not tone down its political views, we will experience a serious problem at the ballots. The public is looking for the way to the Center, not for a radical way."
Contrary to the Kadima and Labor parties, who have recruited fresh faces, the apparent Likud list only consists of people who served in the outgoing Knesset.
Party sources also expressed their concern over the fact that Silvan Shalom is the only one of Middle-Eastern descent among the party's top 10 candidates.
"I call on members of the Likud Central Committee to properly represent all of Israel's ethnic groups on our list. However, it is important to have worthy candidates," MK Michael Eitan said.
