Netanyahu and Gilad Erdan Court Moshe Kahlon for Political Comeback

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is applying significant pressure on former Likud senior official and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon to accept a secured spot near the top of the Likud party list ahead of upcoming elections. According to a report by Haaretz on Thursday, Netanyahu has spoken with Kahlon several times, and if Kahlon agrees to join, he would be placed within the top five candidates and prominently featured in the campaign as a leading social-economic figure. Kahlon, known for the cellular reform and the "Price for Residents" housing program, would be positioned as the party's answer to the rising cost of living, a key issue in current polls.

Simultaneously, Gilad Erdan, who is expected to soon announce the formation of a new right-wing party alongside Yuli Edelstein, is also courting Kahlon to join as a partner in this new political venture. Kahlon has yet to respond positively or negatively to these overtures and is currently deliberating whether to return to politics and under which framework.

These political approaches come after Kahlon was convicted about two months ago following a legal process for securities law reporting violations. The conviction was part of a plea deal, resulting in a suspended sentence and a fine. Since no criminal record was imposed, Kahlon is legally permitted to run for office and re-enter political life. The central question remains whether he will return to his former party, join Erdan and Edelstein's new right-wing initiative, or stay out of politics. Kahlon's representatives have not commented on the reports.