Likud MK Dan Illouz Quits Upcoming Primaries but Remains in Knesset

Likud Member of Knesset Dan Illouz has announced he will not run in the upcoming Likud primaries, citing low chances of securing a realistic spot on the party list for the next Knesset. Despite this decision, Illouz will continue to serve as an MK until the current Knesset term ends and has not left the Likud party.

Throughout his tenure, Illouz was known for his independent stance within Likud, frequently voting against party leadership, especially on issues related to ultra-Orthodox conscription and burden-sharing. Notably, in October 2024, he opposed the "Daycare Law," which aimed to regulate subsidies for daycare centers serving conscripted families. This vote led to his removal from the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee and the Economics Committee, along with other parliamentary sanctions.

Illouz also opposed various versions of the conscription law promoted by the coalition, labeling the issue a "red line" and refusing to support legislation he believed would not significantly increase ultra-Orthodox enlistment. In June, he sharply criticized the initiative to advance a Basic Law on Torah Study during wartime, arguing it harmed soldiers and reservists and stating, "A few more days in power are not worth spitting in the face of the serving public."

During the current legislative week, Illouz maintained his independent approach by voting against the Basic Law on Torah Study, contrary to Likud and coalition positions, sparking confrontations in the Knesset plenum. His future political plans remain unclear, as he has not announced any intention to join another political framework but will remain a Likud MK until the end of the current term.