MK Dan Illouz submitted his resignation letter to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana on Tuesday morning, according to a report. Under the Likud rotation list, Haredi vote contractor Shabbatai Katesh is expected to replace him, becoming the first Haredi lawmaker from the Likud party.
MK Dan Illouz submitted his formal resignation to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana on Tuesday morning (Aug 11, 08:40 Jerusalem), confirming earlier reports and clearing the path for Shabbatai Katesh to become the first Haredi lawmaker from the Likud party.
Initial reports Tuesday morning from journalist Israel Cohen pointed to Katesh as the expected replacement, followed by confirmation from Dana Liel (N12) that Illouz had handed in his resignation. The move completes a political upheaval that began last Wednesday (Aug 5), when Illouz announced his defection from Likud to Avigdor Liberman's Yisrael Beiteinu over opposition to the Haredi draft-exemption bill. That evening, as The Zioneer reported, Illouz was removed from the Likud WhatsApp group with a message reading "Goodbye to the populist." On Sunday (Aug 9), Illouz told reporters he would resign on Monday or Tuesday after closing his office.
Illouz, a Canadian-born lawyer and vocal internal critic of the coalition's conscription policy, broke with Likud after voting against the first reading of the 'Basic Law: Torah Study' in July. His alignment with Yisrael Beiteinu strengthens the secular-nationalist faction advocating for mandatory service. Katesh, a Haredi vote contractor and chairman of the Lod religious council, enters the Knesset under the Likud list rotation; his appointment marks the first time a Haredi representative will sit with the Likud faction.
Katesh is expected to be sworn in later this week. The realignment reshuffles the Knesset's center-right spectrum but leaves Illouz's new role within Yisrael Beiteinu pending the next national elections.
4 developments
- DevelopingShabbatai Katesh expected to enter Knesset as first Haredi MK from Likud
- DevelopingEmet LeYaakov attorney: Torah law bars Haredi enlistment without rabbinic directive
- StrongLikud Haredi vote contractor Shabbatai Katesh reportedly to replace MK Dan Illouz in Knesset
- DevelopingIsrael's Defense Minister Katz orders new 'Chabad Arrangement' framework for Haredi conscription
Source and signal
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