American immigrants Ari Abramowitz and Jeremy Gimpel have hosted televised
variety shows in Israel and the US and worked together to present positive
messages about Israel around the world.
But when it comes to politics,
Gimpel is going it alone.
Abramowitz dropped out of Habayit Hayehudi’s
November 13 Knesset race Thursday in order to give his friend Gimpel a better
chance of getting elected.
“As we approach the primaries, it is becoming
clear that all who believe in the importance of this mission must throw our
support fully and exclusively behind one candidate,” Abramowitz said. “There is
no doubt in my mind that Jeremy should be that candidate.
We both see
this as an unparalleled opportunity to expand our sphere of influence with
Jeremy pushing policy through on a legislative level while I build international
grassroots support for Israel.”
Gimpel thanked Abramowitz for his move,
saying that their friendship and partnership transcends titles and
positions.
“Since the beginning everything that Ari and I have done, we
have done together, and nothing is going to change that,” he said. “As far as
I’m concerned, when we are in the Knesset the only difference between Ari and
myself is that my name will be on the door.”
Gimpel and Abramowitz
decided to endorse MK Zevulun Orlev in the November 6 Habayit Hayehudi
leadership race.
They called upon their supporters to back leadership
candidate Naftali Bennett in his race for the Knesset slate the following
week.
“We feel strongly that Orlev, who is recognized as one of the most
accomplished parliamentarians in the Knesset, can use his vast experience in
government to further not only our party but our mission of serving as the
critical voice of Western aliya in the Israeli government,” they said.
“Considering the magnitude of the challenges Israel faces today, we have not
only the opportunity, but the responsibility, to bring the values, ideals and
inspiration of English-speaking aliya to the Knesset.”
Other Knesset
candidates with connections to English- speaking countries include Yossi Fuchs,
Emanuel Navon, and David Sharan, all in the Likud.