MK Yuli Edelstein Leaves Likud to Launch New Political Path

MK Yuli Edelstein announced in an exclusive interview with "Meet the Press" that he is leaving the Likud party after nearly two decades. Edelstein, a former Knesset Speaker and chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, explained that he can no longer justify the party's policies and will not run in the Likud primaries. Instead, he intends to establish a new political framework. He acknowledged the difficulty of this personal and political decision, noting that longtime supporters within Likud are surprised and disappointed by his departure.

Edelstein was a founding member of the Israel Beiteinu party in 1996 before joining Likud in 2003, where he became a senior figure. His exit follows a turbulent term marked by conflicts with Likud and coalition members, especially over the controversial exemption from military service law. Likud removed him from the chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee after he refused to advance the law as demanded by ultra-Orthodox factions, replacing him with Boaz Bismuth. Recently, Edelstein also voted against the coalition on the Basic Law: Torah Study.

Tensions between Edelstein and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated in January over delays in passing the exemption law. Netanyahu criticized the former committee chairman for obstructing the legislation and breaking promises, expressing lost trust. Edelstein responded by stating the law would not meet the army's needs and lamented the failure to fulfill promises made after the October 7 attacks.

Reports indicate ongoing talks about forming a new party involving Edelstein and former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. Religious Zionist rabbis are reportedly working behind the scenes to create a political home for those feeling unrepresented, aiming for a party that rejects alliances with Arab or ultra-Orthodox parties. The new party would focus on equal burden-sharing while maintaining right-wing values. Former Likud MK Gilad Erdan is also interested in founding a party centered on this issue, potentially collaborating with Edelstein and Shaked in the future.