Election Committee Chair Rules on Knesset Member Party Switches

Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Soferg has ruled that a Knesset member who publicly declares their intention to run with a different party in the next election is considered to have left their current faction. Consequently, to run on a slate representing a party currently in the Knesset, they must resign from the Knesset shortly after their departure from their faction. An exception exists if their faction explicitly agrees in writing within 90 days before the election, and the member continues to adhere to the faction's discipline. In such cases, they are not considered to have left and do not need to resign to run with another party.

This decision means that MK Tali Gottlieb can move from the Likud party to the Otzma Yehudit party without being required to resign her Knesset seat. She will not be considered a departing member, a move she had previously avoided due to concerns about losing her immunity from indictment.