MK Dan Illouz was removed from the Likud WhatsApp group on Wednesday evening, shortly after his announcement of joining Avigdor Liberman's Yisrael Beiteinu. A group message reportedly read 'Goodbye to the populist,' according to Amit Segal (N12).
The Zioneer reported on Wednesday evening that MK Dan Illouz, who had just defected from Likud to Yisrael Beiteinu, was removed from the Likud WhatsApp group with a message reading 'Goodbye to the populist' (N12). The removal came shortly after Illouz announced his defection, and was followed by a farewell message from Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz.
The thread of events began at 20:31 Jerusalem, when The Zioneer reported that Illouz had joined Avigdor Liberman's party. Minutes later, at 20:33, Liberman was quoted as saying Illouz's role would be to 'throw the Haredim in a wheelbarrow to the dump.' At 20:52, the removal from the WhatsApp group and Katz's farewell were reported by multiple outlets, including N12 and Ynet, confirming the sequence.
As The Zioneer reported, Illouz left Likud over the Haredi draft exemption issue, a rift that has reshaped the right-wing political landscape. Liberman's remarks reflect the party's stance on the issue.
The removal from the group underscores the internal tensions within Likud following the defection, with no further developments reported as of 21:11 Jerusalem.
4 developments
- DevelopingAmit Segal reports: MK Dan Illouz joins Yisrael Beiteinu, gets realistic spot on slate
- DevelopingIllouz, alongside Lieberman, says Likud now a subcontractor for Haredi leaders, urges vote for Yisrael Beiteinu
- StrongGadi Yevarkan leaves Likud to form new party 'Beit Yisrael'
- StrongCoalition chairman reprimands MK Dan Ilouz
Source and signal
- Open-source intake