By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is slated to hold a press conference at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, in which he is expected to officially announce the formation of his new political party.
During an afternoon jam-packed with meetings ahead of the press conference, Sharon was focusing efforts on recruiting his allies to join the new party, which would reportedly be dubbed "National Responsibility" (Ahrayut Leumit).
Sharon had meetings scheduled with numerous MKs, including a pivotal appointment with Deputy Internal Security Minister Ya'acov Edri. Of all the new MKs that joined the cabinet recently, Edri is the most respected, and he stands as a symbol of clean politics and integrity.
The Likud is competing to hold onto Edri, and on Sunday leading post-Sharon Likud leadership candidate Binyamin Netanyau called Edri in an effort to persuade him to remain in the party.