MK Moshe Solomon announced his departure from the Religious Zionism party on Thursday evening, citing the party's decision to abandon principles of military service and Torah values. 'I could not look my public in the eye,' Solomon said in a statement. He is the second MK to leave the party this week, following Minister Ofer Sofer.
MK Moshe Solomon issued a statement Thursday evening at 19:45 Jerusalem clarifying his departure from the Religious Zionism party, citing the party's abandonment of IDF service and Torah values. "I could not look my public in the eye," Solomon said. The statement follows initial reports of his exit earlier in the evening.
At 19:45 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported Solomon's departure, citing N12 that he had left due to a drift from core values of Torah, military service, and work. Solomon is the second MK to leave the party this week, following Minister Ofer Sofer's retirement on Wednesday, July 15. In June, Solomon opposed the Basic Law: Torah Study, leading to his removal from Knesset committees on June 10, as The Zioneer reported. Party sources at the time attributed the removal to his conduct, not his vote.
The Zioneer reported on June 10 that Solomon had said he would remain in the party despite the vote. On July 1, he explained his no vote, stating that the legislation "does not come to glorify the Torah." The wider context involves a controversial bill that critics say equates draft avoiders with soldiers.
The party's leadership has not yet responded to Solomon's statement. The coalition's majority remains intact, but the departures reduce the party's representation in the 25th Knesset.
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