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Nov. 19, 2002

Different Israel vows to fight Shinui attempt to disqualify list

By Nina Gilbert

The Different Israel movement announced Monday that it will run as a party in the January 28 elections, and vowed to repel any legal maneuvers by Shinui to disqualify it.

The party leaders, a group of twentysomethings, said the Knesset needs young blood that can bring the nation together and solve its problems.

Eitan Ben-Horin, one of the main leaders, said at a Tel Aviv news conference that Shinui is planning to drag the registration of Different Israel through a lengthy appeals process in an attempt to delegitimize the party and destroy its election campaign.

Shinui MKs voted down a bill that would have shortened the party registration process for the election.

Ben-Horin slammed the leadership of Shinui, saying that after 30 years in the Knesset, Shinui, which means change, has made no difference in society and politics.

Boaz Nol, who was formerly a leader of the Awakening movement for equal draft requirements, said Shinui's behavior shows that it is 'afraid' of a Different Israel.

Nol also slammed Shinui as what he said is a 'hate-driven party' that has now put 'young people on its hate list.'

Party attorney Ofer Eran said the party registered a day after the early election was declared earlier this month. He said the party has met the deadline for registration, and there are no legal grounds to disqualify it.

One of the party's aims is to raise the electoral threshold from 1.5 percent to 5 percent. However, it apparently wants to first win some Knesset seats.

The party has also pledged not to have its MKs serve as ministers, saying it would appoint professionals instead.

Shinui responded to Different Israel's allegations by saying that the claim that it is afraid to lose votes is untrue. Shinui said that, according to recent polls, it will double its number of seats in the Knesset, whereas Different Israel won't cross the electoral threshold.

As for Shinui's vote on the party registration bill, the party said it voted against changing the law for registration because Different Israel announced that it was a party a year ago, but did not register itself in the parties registrar. Shinui said the group did not register because it wanted to collect donations from abroad as a non-profit organization.

Shinui said that the group is being sponsored by 'capitalists who want to establish a party in the Knesset.'

As for no accomplishments in 30 years, the party said that Nol had met with Shinui leader Yosef Lapid six months ago and asked for a position on the party list. According to party sources, Lapid rejected the idea of guaranteeing him a slot and said he must join the party and run.

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