Otzma Yehudit MK Tzvika Fogel Announces Political Retirement

Member of Knesset Tzvika Fogel of the Otzma Yehudit party announced Sunday that he will not run in the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. In a statement, Fogel declared he is concluding his political career with the party but intends to continue serving the country. "It was an honor to represent the people of Israel in the Knesset and as Chairman of the National Security Committee, and I had the privilege of being part of the Otzma Yehudit party," Fogel wrote. "In recent years, I have given my all for the people and the State of Israel, especially to ensure Israel's upper hand after the terrible disaster we have experienced."

Fogel explained that the conditions for his continued political activity in the Knesset or a future government were not as he had planned, leading to his decision not to seek reelection with Otzma Yehudit. He concluded his announcement by wishing his party colleagues success and emphasizing that his retirement from electoral politics does not signify an end to his public service, stating, "I will continue to do and act for the people and the state in any way possible. I am ending a chapter, but the mission continues."

The announcement follows recent changes to the party's electoral list by Otzma Yehudit chairman and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Earlier on Sunday, Ben-Gvir informed MK Limor Son Har Melech that she would be placed fifth on the list, with MK Yitzhak Kroizer in sixth. These changes would have likely pushed Fogel, who was fifth in the previous election, to at least seventh place. While Fogel did not explicitly state this was the reason for his departure, the shift in the party's roster appears to be a significant factor in his decision.

The current projected list for Otzma Yehudit places Itamar Ben-Gvir first, Tali Gottlieb second, Yitzhak Wasserlauf third, Amichai Eliyahu fourth, Limor Son Har Melech fifth, and Yitzhak Kroizer sixth. Gottlieb's second-place position came after her move from the Likud party to Otzma Yehudit, and Wasserlauf conceded his second-place spot to move to third.