Gaydamak fighting back
Photo: Reuven Schwartz
Despite his crushing defeat
in the Jerusalem municipal elections, billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak is turning to the national level. The Israeli-Russian businessman decided Sunday that his Social Justice party will run for Knesset in the upcoming general elections.
The businessman, who invested millions in the Jerusalem elections and ran with his party in 70 local councils (with elected representatives in about 32 councils), still has election headquarters, including a team deployed across the country and rented property.
Who will head the party's roster? Following his disappointment at the Jerusalem Municipality election results and his decision to freeze his activities in the Beitar Jerusalem football club, Gaydamak has yet to decide whether he should be placed first on the party's Knesset list.
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On Sunday, Gaydamak met with his lawyer, Yossi Segev, and decided to roll up his sleeves and fight against all those who fought him.
"He won't give in to anyone," said Segev. "We had two meetings for hours, surveying each and every accusation directed at him and the answers, and we are ready to launch a series of lawsuits.
"The bank, for example, which caused him to sell an asset at the worst time for a guaranteed debt, and all the people who sold him companies for hundreds of millions, way beyond their value, and today he is being sued for trivial things."
What about the stay of exit order issued against him?
"He will be able to raise the guarantees. This means that his plane ticket will be more expensive, but as long as he returns there's no problem."