Likud 'Youth' Begin Independent Campaign for the Young generation

(IsraelNN.com) Eleven “youth” candidates running for Knesset with the Likud have formed a special council running its own campaign, which will focus on issues facing young Israelis. Each of the 11 is under the age of 40 and is placed in one of the top 35 slots on the Likud party list.

The candidates' first initiative is to push the state to pay one year's university tuition for young Israelis. The tuition break would be available only to those who served in the IDF or did national service. The free year of schooling would be in addition to a grant currently provided to released soldiers that can be used to fund education.

The young candidates also hope to encourage “green” building projects, which take environmental concerns into consideration, and to create bike lanes in various locations.

The “youth” candidates include Gila Gamliel, Sagiv Asulin, Tzipi Hotobeli, Ofir Akunis, MK Gilad Erdan and Yariv Levin. In an interview with Yediot Acharonot, Erdan expressed excitement over the number of young candidates, saying, “Something historic is taking place. For the first time in Israel's history, roughly one third of Likud MKs are expected to be young. Some are still students, are still serving in the IDF reserves, finished their IDF service not long ago, are raising young children. They understand the problems of the young generation.”

Tzipi Hotobeli said she hoped the young candidates would encourage young Israelis to get involved in politics. In 2006 only half of young Israelis voted, she said, adding, “We're starting the solution with this campaign.” Hotobeli said she would work to end “brain drain” from Israel.