Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai announces new party called The Israelis Party

Alternate PM Benny Gantz spoke to Nissenkorn and asked him to resign after the justice minister left Blue and White for Huldai's new party.

DECEMBER 29, 2020 21:29

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai and Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn at the announcement on Huldai's new party, December 29, 2020 (photo credit: NESS PRODUCTIONS) — Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai and Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn at the announcement on Huldai's new party, December 29, 2020

(photo credit: NESS PRODUCTIONS)

Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai formally announced on Tuesday that he is entering national politics and is forming a new party to compete in the upcoming general election called The Israelis Party.

Huldai was joined at the press conference by Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn, who will be his number two in the party.

"I decided I could no longer stand on the side and be silent," Huldai said. "Israel can and must be run differently."

Attacking the Right, he says the Center-Left need not vote for right-wingers Gideon Sa'ar, Ze'ev Elkin, Naftali Bennett and Bezalel Smotrich.

Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz spoke to Nissenkorn on Tuesday evening and asked him to resign after the justice minister left Blue and White for the new party being formed by Huldai.

Nissenkorn did not even bother telling Gantz that he was leaving his party. The Blue and White leader found out from a news brief he received on his phone.

"Nissenkorn found a new political home, so he should resign," Gantz said. "The Justice portfolio is one of Blue and White's top assets and we will continue working to maintain democracy and the rule of law."

Blue and White officials expressed outrage at Nissenkorn for betraying the party after Gantz fought Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent the Likud from harming the legal establishment.

"Nissenkorn is ungrateful," a top source in Blue and White said. "He took advantage of our party, ensured his own seat and ran away."

Huldai will not be resigning as mayor of Tel Aviv, because he wants to see how his party will do in the election, so Nissenkorn could become head of the party when he goes.

MK Einav Kabla, the chairwoman of the Knesset Science and Technology Committee, who used to work for Nissenkorn, will join him in the new party.

"We will bring good news to hundreds of thousands of Israelis who feel they do not have a political home," Nissenkorn said. "We will do it with actions, not words."

Nissenkorn, a former Blue and White faction head, turned down offers from Yesh Atid and Labor.

Huldai, 76, has been mayor since 1998.