No other candidates are expected to join the contest by Wednesday’s noon deadline.
By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Meretz MK Zehava Gal-On will formally join the race for the leadership of her party on Wednesday, joining MK Ilan Gilon, who submitted the forms to enter the race on Monday.No other candidates are expected to join the contest by Wednesday’s noon deadline, although it was previously thought that MK Nitzan Horowitz or former MK Mossy Raz might run.Horowitz declined to endorse either candidate in the race, and his associates denied reports that he is planning to run for mayor of Tel Aviv.Raz decided to sit out the race and focus on his current jobs – running the All for Peace radio station and heading environmental protection and handicapped aid organizations. He endorsed Gal-On."I think Zehava needs to lead Meretz,” Raz said. “I would be happy to be her number two in the next Knesset. Ilan is a fit candidate, but I think it is important now to focus on the struggle for democracy and Zehava is the best leader for that.”Gal-On has also received endorsements from former MKs Avshalom Vilan and Naomi Chazan. Gilon’s spokeswoman said he has received a variety of endorsements but doesn’t believe in publicizing them.