Yuli Edelstein and Ayelet Shaked Advance Plans to Form New Right-Wing Party

After months of internal dissent within the ruling Likud party, Knesset member Yuli Edelstein announced on Friday his intention to leave Likud and embark on a "new political path." This new direction is expected to be in partnership with former minister Ayelet Shaked, with whom he has been strengthening ties behind the scenes. They are in advanced talks to establish a new political party.

Edelstein and Shaked have been fully aligned in recent weeks on the strategy, principles, and potential members of their future party. They are also attempting to recruit well-known political figures from the past, including former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan, who has acknowledged considering a political comeback but has not yet decided whether to join them.

A key challenge for Edelstein and Shaked is another potential political union forming in the same ideological space between Benny Gantz and Dedi Simchi, who have not officially announced their alliance. Both emerging parties share similar principles, including the stance that the next Knesset government should exclude Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties. Sources close to Edelstein and Shaked say they are considering two strategic options: either securing 61 seats for the "change bloc" if it becomes the largest and can form a government, or pushing for a broad unity government. They assess the chances of separating Netanyahu from the ultra-Orthodox as low.

Decisions regarding the official launch and formation of the new party are expected within two weeks. The party aims to appeal to a right-wing nationalist audience, particularly religious Zionists who currently feel politically homeless. Recently, Shaked and Edelstein met with key figures from Judea and Samaria and religious Zionist rabbis to solidify their framework. Another potential political returnee is former Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who is exploring options but has not committed to joining their platform.

Meanwhile, Gadi Eizenkot, chairman of the "Yisrael" party, responded to Edelstein's departure from Likud, praising him as a symbol for others in Likud unwilling to compromise national security for narrow politics. Edelstein, 67, has been a Likud member since 2003 and served as Knesset Speaker from 2013 to 2020. He chaired the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee until July 2023, when Netanyahu removed him amid pressure from ultra-Orthodox factions due to his opposition to draft exemption legislation for yeshiva students. Since then, Edelstein has acted independently, recently voting against the "Basic Law: Torah Study," which he called a law institutionalizing draft evasion, and opposing other coalition-backed bills linked to political deals with ultra-Orthodox parties.