MK Dan Illouz Joins Yisrael Beiteinu, Criticizes Likud Leadership Ahead of October Elections

MK Dan Illouz officially joined the Yisrael Beiteinu party three weeks after leaving Likud, ahead of the Knesset elections scheduled for October 27. Illouz, who served one term in the Knesset, announced he would not run in Likud primaries, stating he could not ask voters to support a party he no longer aligns with. Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman welcomed Illouz’s move, highlighting his principled stance and commitment to national and liberal values.

Illouz criticized Likud for becoming an executor of policies driven by Shas and United Torah Judaism leaders Aryeh Deri and Yaakov Litzman, and called on right-wing voters to support Yisrael Beiteinu as the true right-wing party. He praised Lieberman as a strong and consistent leader and emphasized his own work opposing the draft exemption law alongside Yisrael Beiteinu members. Illouz also accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of failing in leadership, especially after the October 7 massacre, and condemned Likud’s attempts to avoid accountability.

Following Illouz’s departure, Likud swiftly removed him from the party’s WhatsApp group, with faction chairman MK Ofir Katz sarcastically bidding farewell to a "populist who forgot who brought him into the Knesset." Illouz, a lawyer and former Jerusalem city council member, had been an independent voice within Likud, opposing several coalition-backed laws and criticizing the party’s decision-making process.

Yisrael Beiteinu praised Illouz’s public service background, including his military service, work in the Foreign Ministry, and leadership in advancing significant national legislation such as ending UNRWA activities and applying Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. Meanwhile, Likud continues to focus on Gadi Eizenkot, leader of the "Yesh!" party, viewing him as their main electoral threat and attempting to portray him as left-wing despite his appeal among right-wing voters.

In a recent interview, Likud’s Dudi Amsalem expressed personal respect for Eizenkot but criticized his political choices, revealing internal party concerns about Eizenkot’s growing support. Netanyahu has launched a campaign targeting right-wing nationalist voters to counter Eizenkot’s rise in the polls.