Yesh Atid MK Admits Party Suffered Severe Blow in October 2023

Member of Knesset Ram Ben Barak of the Yesh Atid party acknowledged on Sunday that the party has undergone significant upheaval, with many senior lawmakers departing. Ben Barak stated on Radio 103fm that the most severe blow the party sustained occurred in October 2023 when they decided not to join the government that included Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

He recalled that party leader Yair Lapid had claimed that following the October 7th Hamas attack, he offered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remove Ben-Gvir from the government, with Yesh Atid taking his place. Ben Barak further commented on the party's current situation, admitting, "We are going through a difficult period. We were a large party, and circumstances have led us to shrink in terms of the number of people who will enter the Knesset."

The report also touched upon upcoming elections, warning of "significant tremors" expected during that period.