Kulanu
Kulanu (Hebrew: כולנו, transliterated Kulānu; lit. "All of Us") was a centrist political party in Israel founded in December 2014 by Moshe Kahlon, a former Likud member of the Knesset and minister of communications, with an emphasis on economic competition, affordability of living costs, and governance free from corruption.[1][2] The party contested the 2015 legislative elections, securing 10 seats in the Knesset and enabling Kahlon to serve as finance minister in Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government from 2015 to 2019, during which he pursued reforms to dismantle monopolies in sectors such as food imports, cellular communications, and banking, resulting in measurable price reductions for consumers in groceries and mobile services.[1][2] In the April 2019 elections, Kulanu retained 4 seats and rejoined the coalition, with Kahlon resuming the finance portfolio until his retirement announcement in 2020, after which the party merged into Likud and ceased independent operations, failing to secure representation in subsequent elections including 2021 and 2022.[2][3] While Kulanu's economic agenda appealed to middle-class voters disillusioned with high costs and oligopolistic practices, its participation in right-leaning coalitions drew criticism for endorsing legislation such as the 2018 Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, which some opponents argued marginalized non-Jewish citizens despite the party's inclusive name, and for supporting regularization of West Bank settlements amid ongoing security debates.[4][2] Kahlon's hawkish stances on defense and security aligned the party with Likud on those fronts, limiting its differentiation from traditional right-wing politics even as it advocated market-oriented policies over expansive welfare expansions.[2][5]History
Founding and Initial Platform (2014–2015)
Moshe Kahlon, Israel's Minister of Communications from March 2009 to July 2013, achieved notable reforms by fostering competition in the telecommunications sector, which reduced cellular phone bills for consumers by over 70%.[6] These measures included slashing interconnect fees by 73%, saving the public approximately one billion shekels annually.[7] Following his tenure, Kahlon resigned from the Knesset in November 2012 amid tensions with Likud leadership, but formally ended his party membership on October 21, 2014, citing a desire to prioritize economic issues over internal politics.[8] Kulanu was launched by Kahlon on December 10, 2014, as a new political vehicle aimed at tackling Israel's acute cost-of-living challenges, including soaring housing prices and concentrated market structures that stifled competition.[9] The party's name, meaning "All of Us" in Hebrew, reflected its intent to represent broad middle-class interests disillusioned with established parties' handling of oligopolistic practices in sectors like food retail and banking.[1] Kahlon's platform emphasized deregulation to dismantle monopolies and public sector inefficiencies, drawing on his prior successes to promise tangible relief from economic pressures exacerbated by the 2011 social protests.[10] Positioned as a centrist, pragmatic force, Kulanu sought to differentiate itself through a focus on first-principles economic reforms rather than security or ideological divides, appealing to voters prioritizing affordability over partisan loyalty.[1] To underscore commitments to transparency and renewal, the party prioritized candidates with reputations for integrity, often from outside traditional political circles, signaling an anti-corruption stance amid public skepticism toward veteran politicians.[1] This approach positioned Kulanu as a populist yet responsible alternative, with early polls projecting it to secure at least 10 Knesset seats.[9]