Quietly, MK Amichai Shikli began working on his political future.
He sits in the Knesset on the mandate standard of the right-wing party, although in practice he is no longer part of it from the beginning, when he opposed the formation of the current government, and when he voted against the state budget and the Citizenship Law.
Shikli took the time to get organized.
He has not yet decided whether to form a party or join another party (the Likud), but behind the scenes he is already up and running in significant preparations for the move.
Tomorrow (Friday) in the "Israel of the Week" supplement, it was announced that Shikli would like to design a list of strong, professional, dominant figures with a clear opinion, as well as right-wing and national figures.
In the meantime he is in the stage of planting the seeds and probing.
For example, he sent a message to Dr. Sharon Elrai Price that he would have been happy to meet her, but did not receive an answer. Busy with investments and sports, and politics is not his direction in life.
Even MK Bish Atid received an offer, joking that there is also a half-truth behind it, that she would join the list.
Opposition leader Netanyahu (archive) // Photo: Amit Shabi,
There are also people for whom Shikli threw the idea of joining the party he led, and even heard a positive response from them, such as Yosef Haddad, CEO of Yahad - Arabs for Each Other, which works to connect the Arab and Jewish sectors, who also told Shikli he would be happy to join the list. A realistic place.
Aside from exploring with the same familiar characters, Shikli begins working on the field.
Recruit supporters, meet people.
Although we are not in an election period, and if a dramatic and unusual step does not happen, elections are not in sight at all - in recent weeks Shikli has begun a journey around the country.
He holds conferences, meets prominent social activists and aims for a clear "base" - disappointed to the right and a new party of hope.
Shikli traveled to Alon Shvut, Beit Arye, Givat Shmuel, South Tel Aviv, Moshav Porat and more.
He meets religious and secular people, right-wingers, with national views.
The people who voted for Bennett and Saar and were disappointed with the formation of the current government.
Shikli was asked during his tours what the potential is for the party he heads, and he explains that it could range from 13-7 seats.
If he stands at ten and finishes with seven or eight seats - it will be a success.
All options are open
Another option is to join the Likud list.
He accepts Netanyahu as the leader of the national camp, but if Netanyahu leaves - the cards will be shuffled.
In his view, the Likud has become a party shaped by Netanyahu.
The day after, it is not certain that it will remain a stable and strong movement that revolves around the 30 seats.
Also, Shikli is not at all sure he would like to serve under Israel Katz, Yuli Edelstein or Nir Barkat.
As part of the chatter of the polls in the Knesset corridors, he saw polls in which he is stronger than those claiming the crown in the Likud.
And such a possibility requires thought.
Were we wrong?
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