Out with the old, in with the… old. The Pensioners’ Party, which rode a swell of disaffection to score a shock electoral upset in 2006, is planning a comeback, The Times of Israel’s Hebrew-language sister site, Zman, reports.
The exclusive report says the initiative is being led by former Knesset member and Mossad chief Danny Yatom, journalist Peerli Shahar and others.
The reconstituted party is planning to enlist a roster of high-profile names, including retired Israeli-American basketball star Tal Brody and singer Yehoram Gaon.
Maccabi Tel Aviv 1977 European champions reunite. Back row: Moti Aresti, Lou Silver, Aulcie Perry, Shuki Schwartz; Front row: Miki Berkovich, Tal Brody, Aryeh Davidesco, Ruti Klein (widow of coach Ralph Klein). (Avner Gera)
Academic Avi Bitzur, who is also among the leaders of the initiative, tells Zman that the party will focus on the plight of elders in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The time has come, especially in the wake of the coronavirus disaster, for pensioners to get everything [they need] using political clout, just like the Haredim do,” he says.
“That is the way to battle all the tragedies that occurred in retirement homes, so that such things won’t happen again, so that thousands of innocent people won’t be executed again.”
Speculation has swirled that new elections will take place sometime in the first half of next year, amid a seemingly insurmountable impasse between the ruling Likud and the Blue and White party over the state budget.
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Tuesday, October 27, 2020
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