Yesh Atid Party Faces Major Exodus Ahead of Elections

The Yesh Atid party, once a significant force in Israeli politics, is experiencing a substantial internal breakdown ahead of the upcoming elections on October 27th. Of the 24 Knesset members Yesh Atid held after the last election, only 13 are expected to remain on the party's list for the next vote. Many are leaving due to the perceived lack of realistic placement on the list, especially following the recent alliance with Naftali Bennett's party and the impending deadline for list submissions.

Several prominent figures and founding members have departed during the current Knesset term and leading up to the election. These include Orna Barbivai, who is running for Mayor of Tel Aviv, and former minister Yoel Razvozov, who left for a business career abroad. Boaz Toporovsky, a party founder, announced his departure from politics in June. Veteran members Meir Cohen and Mickey Levy have also stepped aside to make way for younger politicians, though they are expected to take symbolic roles within the party mechanism. Other departures include Eliezer Stern, who joined Benny Gantz's National Unity party, Ron Katz, who entered civilian life, and Idan Roll, who left to form his own faction before also exiting politics.

Further departures were announced recently, with MKs Tatiana Mazursky and Debi Biton stating they will not be part of the list, though they affirmed their continued membership in the party. The pressure is mounting within Yesh Atid as the deadline for submitting party lists approaches. MKs, particularly those in lower positions on the list, are reportedly receiving subtle indications of their slim chances for re-election and are choosing to leave proactively.

The merger with Bennett's party, intended to stem declining poll numbers which predicted single-digit mandates for Yesh Atid, has reportedly stalled Bennett's momentum due to public difficulty in accepting the union. The party is facing one of its most significant crises since its inception, with the upcoming list submission on Sunday expected to reveal the full extent of the internal fragmentation.