Lapid's party recruits Herzliya, Dimona mayors

Yael German, Meir Cohen to help Yesh Atid boost support in periphery ahead of January elections

Tzvika Brot|Published: 10.22.12 , 14:11

After businessman and former Shin Bet chief Yaakov Peri joined Yesh Atid last week, party chairman Yair Lapid is expected to present Monday evening two new recruits – Herzliya Mayor Yael German and Dimona Mayor Meir Cohen.

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German and Cohen, who are considered to be exceptional mayors, will likely be placed in the top 10 spots of Yesh Atid's list of candidates ahead of the January elections. However, the two are not expected to resign from their posts before they are elected to the Knesset.

German, 65, a previous member of Meretz, has been serving as mayor of Herzliya for the past 14 years. Cohen, 57, has been Dimona's mayor for the past nine years. He was affiliated with Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party. Both German and Cohen served as school principals before they entered the local political arena.

Lapid will try to use their municipal experience to boost support for Yesh Atid in the periphery and to convey the message – through the new party members – that the government offices and ministers are only looking after the interests of their constituents.

Lapid is set to release the party's full list of candidates within the next two weeks. According to Channel 10, Rabbi Shai Piron, co-founder of the national-religious Tzohar organization, is expected to fill the No. 2 slot.

Ynet contributed to the report