Sharren Haskel Resigns and Launches New Right-Wing Party Israel First

Just one day after announcing her resignation from the Knesset, MK Sharren Haskel revealed she is leading a new right-wing party called "Israel First." This move follows a mysterious digital campaign titled "The Right Opens Its Eyes," which Haskel confirmed was her initiative. The new party positions itself as a liberal right-wing alternative, directly challenging the current right-wing leadership and its traditional alliances.

Haskel centers her campaign on opposition to the current military draft law, criticizing the right-wing leadership for what she calls "succumbing to sectoral blackmail," particularly regarding the ultra-Orthodox community. She claims to represent the "political homeless" on the right, a constituency she says is no longer adequately represented in the Knesset. In her statement, Haskel said, "The old political order has prioritized sectoral interests over our fighters on the front lines. We are here to ensure that anyone who identifies as Zionist, believes in a secure, national, and liberal right, and refuses to accept deals at the expense of those serving, will now have a political home in Israel First."

The party outlines five core principles: security, free-market economy, education for excellence, expanded civil liberties, and equality in the national burden. Haskel's party aims to attract around 10 Knesset seats from right-wing voters who have lost faith in the current political system. This development marks Haskel's attempt to reposition herself as an alternative to the right-wing camp she once belonged to, criticizing its leadership style and political alliances. Her new party will compete directly for votes with existing right-wing factions.