The only candidate Anglos can 'Bank' on? The only candidate Anglos can 'Bank' on?
Jan. 1, 2009Gil Hoffman , THE JERUSALEM POSTFive US citizens ran for places on the LikudKnesset list, an Australian and a Canadian ranin Kadima, and another Canadian sought aseat in Israel Beiteinu, but none of them won arealistic slot.The Likud merged Sunday with MK EffiEitam's Ahi Party and placed former BeitShemesh mayoral candidate Shalom Lerner of Ahi, who has lived in New York, Baltimore andLondon, 39th on the joint list. But no poll hasshownthe Likudwinningthat manyseats.TheGreens, the Green Movement, a new electoralreform party called Yisraelim and a breakoff from the Green Leaf party are fielding Anglocandidates and are trying to pass the 2 per-cent electoral threshold for the first time.That leaves Detroit-born, Chicago-raised UriBank of the National Union as the only Anglocandidate running with a party currently repre-sented in the Knesset who has any chance of getting elected.Bank was placed fifth on the National Unionlist that was submitted to the Central ElectionsCommittee on Sunday as the top representa-tive of his Moledet party following the retire-ment of its chairman, Benny Elon. The slotwas a significant upgrade for Bank, who was10th on the National Unionlist in 2003 when it wonseven seats and 16thin 2006 when itwon nine.According to adeal reachedby the four parties thatmake up theNational Union(Hatikva, Tkuma, Eretz Yisrael Shelanu andMoledet), if the list wins four seats and entersthe gov-ernment,the min-ister wouldquit theKnessetto make room for Bank. They also decided thatBank would become the faction's manager inthe Knesset if they win fewer than five seatsbut remain in the opposition.A Jerusalem Post poll found that the publicwas not aware of the difference between theNational Union and the more centrist, national-religious Habayit Hayehudi party, but that to-gether they would split seven or eight seats.An internal poll sponsored by Tkuma lastweek found that the National Union would winfive seats and Habayit Hayehudi three.The 40-year-old Bank lives in Neveh Daniel inGush Etzion with his wife and three children.He made aliya from Chicago when he was 12and stayed in the country on his own when his
Knesset Candidate Uri Bank
“... the only Anglo candidate running with aparty currently represented in the Knesset whohas any chance of getting elected.”
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