Sharon's aides try enlist Katsav's brother
President's brother confirms that Sharon's aides have tried to recruit him to join the prime minister's new political party; MK Erdan calls the move 'bribery'
Katsav confirmed Tuesday that he received calls from various parties including Sharon's aides, saying that his kippa is bait for most parties who seek to recruit a Likud man of strong nationalist and religious convictions.
“From my early childhood I’ve admired the faction and remained faithful to it. Yet I spoke with senior retirees and I understand them,” Lior Katsav told Ynet.
The president’s brother, who is closely watching Sharon’s new party platform, noted that ideological issues including Israel’s territorial entirety are of great concern to him.
Ynet has learned that senior officials in Sharon’s new party assure Katsav that Sharon plans to strengthen large settlement blocks in the West Bank and that a second disengagement plan is not in the cards.
Despite the assurances Katsav remains undecided. Having served as mayor of the southern town of Kiryat Malachi, many see him as an asset in drafting voters in southern communities.
Knesset member Gilad Erdan (Likud) said in response to the report that Sharon's approach is "an attempted bribery."
"I will consider filing a complaint with the police," he said. "During these days when the president is expected to make a decision, and when the prime minister is trying to bypass the Knesset, we are talking about bribery."
Ilan Marciano contributed to the report
