When a new, little-known party makes the front page of a major newspaper, it's bound to get attention. When that same party is on the cover of two top newspapers within a week, with opposite headlines – one very positive, one very negative – it's making its way to becoming a household name.
"The Israelis," a mysterious new party hoping to represent immigrants from the Former Soviet Union in the 19th Knesset, is led by David Con, a reporter, author and screenwriter well-known in the Russian-speaking community. This week, its name was emblazoned on page-one of Yediot Aharonot and Yisrael Hayom.
Meanwhile, Yisrael Beytenu candidates are pushing back, hoping to remind immigrants what it has done to help them.
On Friday, a Yediot poll gave The Israelis two seats, bringing it close to passing the election threshold, while Yisrael Hayom accused the party of being a front for The Tzipi Livni Party on Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for The Israelis called it "a real party, with amazing people who built themselves up from nothing, without corruption," that would represent FSU immigrants' interests. She would not answer questions about connections to Livni.
Con also refused to discuss the issue.
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