Kichlon associates in intensive contacts with Chaim Amsalem • Kichlon met with Deri

The Minister of Communications, Labor and Welfare, Moshe Kichlon, who resigned from the Likud, met today with Aryeh Deri from Shas.

The meeting between Deri and Kichlon was held, after it emerged that associates of Minister Moshe Kichlon, who polls predict a huge success if he runs at the top of a new social party, are managing intense contacts with 'Am Shalem' led by MK Chaim Amsalem, who retired from Shas.

The Shas leadership is concerned that the independent running of Kichlon at the top of the social party will hurt the party. A joint run with MK Chaim Amsalem at the top of a social –traditional-Sephardic party, is the fulfillment of their worst nightmare.
The contact of Kichlon's associates with Amsalem is designed to test joint running for the 19th Knesset, since the chance to register a new party at the Registrar is slim.

According to Kichlon's associates, "Connection with MK Chaim Amsalem can suit him well, because of the social and traditional values which Amsalem believes in, and combine with his own values." Stated, those close to the two have already designated contacts to produce a meeting between Kichlon and Amsalem.

According to sources in Am Shalem, in the case that the two decide to run together, they will combine a joint list using the zipper method for the first two ten, which they will assign alternatively for their candidates. The most sensitive question is of course who will run first. But it is clear that if a decision on a joint run is decided, a solution will be found.

Deri's associates reported that "Aryeh Deri is on a tour up north, so it does not make sense that he met with Kichlon." It should be noted that Minister Kichlon lives in Haifa.

It has also become known that the Likud are making vigorous efforts to bring Kichlon home. In the afternoon, Knesset Chairman Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin who spoke to Kichlon told him to return. "You are part of the DNA of the Likud," said Rivlin, who following the conversation to Netanyahu said: "The chances to bring Kichlon back are not over".

Chaim Amsalem confirmed this morning that retired Major General Elazar Stern, will run in second place on the Am Shalem list of the Knesset. In an interview with Army Radio Amsalem said: "Stern is a most worthy man, and I'm proud he is joining the party."

Amsalem and Stern were introduced due to Amsalem's issue of converting soldiers, who are not Jewish according to Jewish law, but are sons of Jewish families.

Stern's name was used as a candidate for joining the 'Yesh Atid' party of Yair Lapid, but he rejected the offer.

Newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the last meeting was held between Amsalem and Stern at the office of Amsalem's campaign manager, advertising man Ilan Zarmon, at the end they agreed on the joint running.

Stern himself told Yedioth Ahronoth about the meeting: "I have known him for years. He is a brave and important man and we have lots of things in common between us." About whether they have agreed to run together, Stern said: "do not approve nor deny."

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