Kulanu leader Moshe Kahlon cast an early ballot in Haifa before embarking on a tour of the small cities that have been the center of his campaign
"This is the first time I am not voting for Likud, but I do it wholeheartedly," Kahlon, a former Likud minister said. "We founded the Kulanu party to change the face of the nation. We are the only ones with the courage to battle the tycoons and pressure groups for the citizens."On Tuesday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party admitted to forging a recording of Kahlon promising to support Netanyahu, according to a Kulanu spokesman.Calling the fabrication "criminal," Kahlon added that "It is sad that the Likud party, in a moment of desperation, chooses to deceive the public."Central Elections Committee Judge Salim Joubran fined the Likud party 20,000 over the forged recording.A former communications minister, Kahlon delighted Israelis by promoting competition in the cellular market, a move that slashed the prices of mobile telephone services.