Israeli Lawmaker Debi Biton Announces Departure from Yesh Atid Party List

Member of Knesset Debi Biton of the Yesh Atid party announced on Tuesday that she will not be running in the upcoming Knesset elections on the party's list. She informed party chairman Yair Lapid of her decision earlier in the week. Biton, who has served in the Knesset for four years, stated she is leaving with "great satisfaction and pride" for her public service, legislative work, and advocacy.

Biton expressed gratitude to Lapid for his trust and the opportunity to serve, and to her party colleagues for their shared work. Despite her departure from the Knesset list, she clarified that she remains committed to Yesh Atid and its values, vowing to continue public service and advocate for the issues she championed.

Her announcement follows a wave of departures from the Yesh Atid party in recent weeks. MK Mickey Levy also announced he would not be on the next Knesset list after meeting with Lapid, and will instead serve as the presiding judge of the Yesh Atid court. Other MKs, including Boaz Toporovsky, Ron Katz, and Meir Cohen, have also announced their departures. MKs Yoav Segalovitz and Eleazar Stern will run with other parties, Ra'am and "Yashar!" respectively.

With the party's expected reduction in Knesset seats from its current 24 mandates, many current members are unlikely to serve in the next Knesset. Reports indicate that retired Major General Noam Tibon is expected to be placed in a realistic spot on the list, alongside current MKs Vladimir Belyakov, Naor Shiri, Merav Ben Ari, and Merav Cohen. The future of several other MKs, including Michal Shir, Ram Ben Barak, and Karin Elharrar, remains uncertain.

During her tenure, Biton notably led legislation to protect families of fallen IDF soldiers from dismissal during their first year of mourning.