Israeli Party Leader Vows To Prevent Defections With New Covenant

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, announced that his party will establish a covenant and ethical code to obligate any member unable to identify with its platform to resign from the Knesset. This move, reported by Channel 12 News, aims to prevent political defections, a phenomenon Eisenkot described as "despicable" and something that "must be condemned in Israeli politics."

Eisenkot stated that if a Knesset member decides to resign, they must return their mandate. He drew a parallel to his own departure from Benny Gantz's party, noting that he personally resigned from the Knesset when he disagreed with Gantz's path, despite receiving offers from other parties to remain in parliament. "I gave the personal example," Eisenkot said, emphasizing that he would not tolerate actions similar to those of former MKs Idit Silman, Amichai Chikli, and Nir Orbach, who left their parties to join other political factions.

Eisenkot mentioned that he has spoken with all 40 candidates for the upcoming elections and expects them to adhere to the party's ethical guidelines. He intends for this covenant to serve as an example for other parties in Israel's political landscape. He also revealed that he had received numerous offers from various parties on the day he resigned from Gantz's faction, but he refused them, choosing instead to return his mandate.