Dan Illouz's Tweet Ends Knesset Return Hopes After Lieberman's Shift
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Former Knesset member Dan Illouz will not enter the current Knesset after criticizing potential coalition agreements with ultra-Orthodox parties regarding conscription. His strong stance on the conscription law, a key promise of his party Yisrael Beiteinu, has led to his exclusion. This comes as Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman has signaled a willingness to compromise with ultra-Orthodox parties on the conscription law, reversing his previous boycott.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Dan Illouz's criticism of ultra-Orthodox coalition deals likely ends his Knesset entry via the Norwegian Law.
- Illouz stated the conscription law is an existential necessity for Israel's security and economy.
- He vowed to fight against any conscription exemption law, even as a citizen.
- Yisrael Beiteinu's Avigdor Lieberman is now open to compromising with ultra-Orthodox parties on conscription.
- Lieberman previously maintained a long-standing boycott of ultra-Orthodox parties.
Former Knesset member Dan Illouz, who left the Likud party over the push for a conscription exemption law, is unlikely to enter the current Knesset through the "Norwegian Law." Illouz, who was ranked 10th on the Yisrael Beiteinu list, criticized on social media the possibility of the "Change Bloc" forming a government with ultra-Orthodox parties. He stated on X that "it is impossible to give up on the conscription law," calling it an existential necessity due to the heavy burden on reservists, the army's need for combat soldiers, and economic implications. Illouz emphasized that this was a core promise made to voters before the election, and the reason he switched from Likud to Yisrael Beiteinu. He recalled his past efforts against a similar exemption law in the 25th Knesset, which led to his removal from the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and vowed to fight against such a law from the "other side" as a citizen if necessary.
Illouz declared he is not a "bloc person" and prioritizes government policy. He suggested that to prevent further elections, parties should abandon blocs, agree on basic principles, and form a "Zionist unity government" to win wars, draft ultra-Orthodox men, and implement significant economic reforms. Following his critical tweet, Yisrael Beiteinu is not expected to use the Norwegian Law to bring Illouz into the Knesset.
Earlier, Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman confirmed reports about intentions to form a government with the ultra-Orthodox parties. He posted that he intends to compromise with them on enacting a conscription law, a significant election promise. This move comes after Lieberman had previously maintained a long-standing political boycott of ultra-Orthodox parties and reiterated this commitment before the recent elections. Given the election results and the difficulty in forming a government without additional partners, the possibility of a joint government between the "Change Bloc" and ultra-Orthodox parties is now being considered.
