Likud Expels Dan Illouz from WhatsApp Group After He Joins Yisrael Beiteinu

Following Dan Illouz's announcement of his official move to Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party, Likud swiftly removed him from its WhatsApp group. The action was carried out by Likud faction chairman MK Ofir Katz, who attached a mocking message saying, "Goodbye to the populist who forgot who brought him into the Knesset. There was never a Likud." One MK responded to Katz's message with a laughing emoji.

Illouz left Likud about two weeks prior and publicly declared his support for Lieberman as prime minister, sharply criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud leadership. His departure follows a prolonged period of internal tension within Likud, where Illouz was a prominent dissenting voice on religion and state issues, particularly opposing the exemption from military service and the Basic Law on Torah Study.

As a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Illouz led a persistent campaign against the military draft law, resulting in significant sanctions from his party, including removal from Knesset committees and losing the right to submit private bills. He described the alliance with ultra-Orthodox leadership as an existential threat to Israel. During a preliminary vote on the Basic Law on Torah Study, Illouz voted against it despite the removal of a clause equating Torah students with IDF soldiers.

Illouz's official switch to Yisrael Beiteinu marks the end of a contentious chapter in his political career within Likud.