MK Yuli Edelstein announced on N12's Meet the Press that he is leaving the Likud party after 23 years, saying he can no longer justify the party's policies. He specifically criticized the party's approach to military service, asking whether it will continue to enable draft dodging.
Yuli Edelstein announced his departure from the Likud party on Saturday evening in an interview on N12's Meet the Press, ending a 23-year affiliation. He specifically criticized the party's approach to military service, asking, 'What will we do? Will we continue to enable draft dodging?'
The announcement follows days of speculation. As The Zioneer reported on June 29, Edelstein was expected to leave Likud, with reports of talks with MK Gilad Erdan and former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. On July 3, Edelstein told N12 in an exclusive interview that he could no longer justify Likud policies and would establish a new political framework aiming for a national unity government, refusing to join the current opposition bloc.
Edelstein, a former Knesset Speaker and Soviet Refusenik, has been a prominent Likud figure for over two decades. His departure is a significant political shift, likely to impact coalition dynamics. It remains unclear whether he will form a new party or join an existing slate, and which other figures might follow him.
3 developments
- DevelopingEdelstein tells N12 he can no longer justify Likud policies, will form new unity government framework
- DevelopingYuli Edelstein expected to leave Likud, reportedly in talks with Erdan, Shaked
- StrongEisenkot to Edelstein: Hope you serve as a model against Likud's 'culture of lies and intimidation'
- DevelopingLapid: Edelstein Could Have Left Likud Also in August
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