Rejecting reports, Kahlon rules out return to Likud

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon rejects merging his Kulanu party with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud in the wake of Knesset elections earlier this month.

“We’re independent, the party is independent and we will continue to be independent,” Kahlon says in a faction meeting ahead of the swearing in of the 21st Knesset.

Kahlon, an ex-Likud minister, calls on Israelis to ignore recent reports that he would return to his former party.

Kulanu won four seats in the April 9 elections, down from 10 it had in last the Knesset. A decision by Kahlon to return to the Likud fold would have made the ruling party the largest in this Knesset with 39 seats.