Former Likud MK Dan Illouz Joins Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu Party

Former Likud member of Knesset Dan Illouz has officially joined the Yisrael Beiteinu party, Avigdor Lieberman announced on Wednesday evening. Illouz stated that Yisrael Beiteinu represents the national and liberal values he believes in today. He highlighted his recent collaboration with Yisrael Beiteinu lawmakers in opposing the draft evasion law and criticized Likud for becoming an executor of policies driven by Aryeh Deri and Yitzhak Goldknopf. Illouz also condemned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership, calling for him to take responsibility and step down. He urged Likud supporters seeking a true right-wing option to vote for Yisrael Beiteinu.

Lieberman praised Illouz as a principled individual who has demonstrated courage, integrity, and a willingness to pay a personal price to uphold his values, especially in fighting against draft evasion and demanding equal burden sharing. He described Illouz's addition as a significant boost to the Zionist, national, and liberal camp.

Last month, Illouz publicly announced his departure from Likud, refusing to run in the party's upcoming primaries. He sharply criticized the coalition's conduct, accusing Likud of being hijacked by interest groups and adopting agendas that no longer represent the state-oriented right-wing legacy of Menachem Begin and Ze'ev Jabotinsky. Illouz specifically condemned the coalition's handling of the October 7 events, the removal of the term "massacre" from legislation, and blocking the establishment of a state inquiry committee. He called the draft exemption saga a disgrace and said it made clear his place was no longer in Likud. Illouz accused Likud of continuous capitulation to ultra-Orthodox parties and facilitating arrangements that institutionalize draft evasion, equating voting for Likud today with voting for Shas or Goldknopf.