New Koolanu party leader Moshe Kahlon unveiled his first candidate for the March 17 election Wednesday, Israel's former ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren.
At a press conference at Tel Aviv's ZOA's house, Kahlon presented Oren as the right man to fix Israel's image problems and deteriorating relationship with key allies.
“Unfortunately, allies of Israel are distancing themselves and our relations aren't what they were in the past,” Kahlon said. “Michael Oren is the right person to handle this responsibility. He proved that even when there are disagreements, he can maintain close ties. Michael is the best in his field.”
Oren, whose family attended the press conference, said he was emotional about entering politics. He thanked Kahlon for the opportunity and said he saw his career change as taking responsibility.
“Israel is at a critical junction,” Oren said. “I couldn't look from the side and do nothing when Israel is under diplomatic attack.”
Both Kahlon and Oren spoke about how Israel's diplomatic and socioeconomic challenges are intertwined.
“If Israel can handle its internal problems, it will be stronger diplomatically, and being strong externally will help Israel be strong internally,” Oren said.
Oren called Kahlon “a true leader” and a partner for his political path. After the press conference, he told The Jerusalem Post that they had already started working together on Koolanu's diplomatic platform.
Kahlon and Oren have expressed different views from each other in the past on diplomatic issues. Kahlon fiercely opposed withdrawing from the Gaza Strip and once supported annexing much of the West Bank. But lately he has expressed support for territorial concessions.
Oren has spoken in favor of Israel withdrawing unilaterally from much of the West Bank and criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not being bold enough on diplomatic issues.
An upstate New York native, Oren was raised in West Orange New Jersey. An expert on US-Israel relations, he is the author of the best-selling book Power, Faith and Fantasy and Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East.
Following an academic career, he served as ambassador in Washington for four years.
Koolanu will announce another candidate Thursday morning in Beersheba, socioeconomic expert Eli Alaloof. Like Oren, Alaloof is a former appointment of Netanyahu.