MK Dan Illouz Joins Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu, Replacing Yariv Levin

MK Dan Illouz, who recently left the Likud party after opposing ultra-Orthodox exemption laws, has officially joined Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party. Illouz will take the place of Yariv Levin within the party. Illouz criticized Likud, stating that it has become an executor for Aryeh Deri and Goldknopf, and accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of failing in leadership and urged him to step down. He called on fellow Likud members seeking genuine right-wing representation to vote for Yisrael Beiteinu.

Illouz expressed strong support for Lieberman, describing him as a strong, experienced, and principled leader who stands firm even at political cost. He emphasized that Yisrael Beiteinu represents those who believe in Zionism, national responsibility, and a Jewish, Zionist, and liberal state, aligning with the values of Jabotinsky and Begin.

Lieberman welcomed Illouz, praising his courage, integrity, and willingness to pay a personal price for his principles, especially in the fight against exemption laws and for equal national burden sharing. Lieberman called Illouz's joining a significant boost to the Zionist, national, and liberal camp.

Following Illouz's departure from Likud, he was removed from the party's WhatsApp group by coalition chairman Ofir Katz, who sent a message to the group dismissing Illouz as a populist who forgot who brought him to the Knesset and stating he was never truly part of Likud.