Netanyahu to appoint Kahlon as Israel's finance minister

Netanyahu to appoint Kahlon as Israel’s finance minister

Kahlon, who heads the new Kulanu party, is known for championing middle-class economic issues.

Moshe Kahlon, leader of the Kulanu Party (center), ex-IDF General Yoav Galant (left) and Kulanu party member Michael Oren (right) during a meeting at the Kulanu headquarters in Lod, March 16, 2015. (Flash90)

March 24, 2015 4:33 pm

(JTA) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said he will appoint Moshe Kahlon as the country’s finance minister.

Kahlon, the founder and leader of the center-right Kulanu party, met with Netanyahu on Tuesday night, Haaretz reported. A day earlier, Kahlon had announced that his party, which won 10 Knesset seats in last week’s election, would join a coalition with Netanyahu, helping propel the prime minister to the majority needed to form a government.

Under Netanyahu, Kahlon has served as minister of communications and of welfare and social services. He is known for championing middle-class economic issues.

In 2014, Kahlon broke from Netanyahu’s Likud Party to form Kulanu.

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