Major-General (Res.) Uzi Dayan announced Monday that he was joining
the Likud
party and planning to run for a seat in the Knesset. He praised Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu's
war on corruption, saying that he found the Likud to be a suitable partner in fighting this disease.
Netanyahu said that the former general was an enterprising and talented person. "Dayan has revealed his original outlook and Zionist commitment. He brings these two characteristics to the Likud and the State. Uzi is also a brother in arms."
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Following his release from the army, Dayan formed the political party and social movement Tafnit (turnaround). Dayan announced at the time that the party would place in the top of its platform the struggle against the "public corruption", but it failed to gain any Knesset seats in the 2006 general elections.
Dayan said during the press conference, "Six years ago I took the public road, a long and uneasy road. I dealt with many issues voluntarily. The Tafnit party has decided to join the Likud, and the main thing is an agenda, and the agenda is a Zionist and Democratic Jewish state, restoring security, a strong and growing economy and education, and a clean and worthy governmental system."
Taking a turn. Dayan with Netanyahu (Photo: Dudi Vaaknin)
He added that he had realized it would be impossible to act as part of a small and independent party, and that in order to make a change he must join the Likud, because the party headed by Netanyahu has the power to do it.
"Benjamin Netanyahu ran the country and the Finance Ministry with amazing incorruptibility," Dayan said.
As for the war on corruption, the retired general noted that "Tafnit waved the flag of the war on corruption. We are all victims of corruption, and Netanyahu too has led a move inside the Likud to clean the ranks, indicating his intentions. I feel that the Likud people are fighting with me shoulder-to-shoulder."
Both Netanyahu and Dayan rejected the claim that Netanyahu had promised Dayan a ministerial position should he be elected to form the next government.
"All I was promised was hard work and mutual support. I did not ask for a secured place and I did not get a secured place. Anyone entering politics is either called pathetic or an opportunist. I have never negotiated with any party, neither with Kadima nor with the Labor party," said Dayan.
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