Yuli Edelstein Quits Likud List Citing Loss of Values and Plans New Political Path

Knesset member Yuli Edelstein announced he will not run on the Likud list in the upcoming elections, expressing disappointment with the party's direction. Speaking on Kan Hadashot's "Kalman Liverman" program, he said he no longer recognized the faction that once spoke about values before the elections and criticized the approach to the judicial reform, which he had supported but now questions. When asked if he would resign from the Knesset, Edelstein declined, stating he would not "give gifts" to those pushing laws such as the "Arikim Detention Law" and the "Torah Study Law" in the coming weeks.

Edelstein plans to focus on creating a political landscape with five independent lists running simultaneously, aiming for a broad and Zionist government coalition. He emphasized that he cannot accept a situation where his party supports a narrow 61-seat majority aligned with one side or another. His departure from the Likud list was first revealed in a Friday interview with Channel 12, where he also hinted at forming a new political path, possibly joining forces with Gilad Erdan and Ayelet Shaked to establish a new party.

His exit follows the Knesset's preliminary approval of the "Basic Law: Torah Study" earlier this week. Edelstein was removed as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee due to his opposition to the exemption from military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews and was replaced by Boaz Bismuth. He was later removed from the committee altogether. The law, granting Torah students rights equal to those serving in the military, passed with 63 votes in favor and 53 against, with Edelstein among the coalition members voting against it. Prime Minister Netanyahu also participated in the vote, responding to ultra-Orthodox parties' demands for a 61-vote majority rather than a simple majority.

Within Likud, there is concern about the difficulty of securing the re-election of key members such as Ravilov, Kahlon, Sa'ar, and Bivas amid Netanyahu's demands for reserved spots on the party list.