MK Dan Illouz Resigns from Knesset, Sabbatai Katesh to Replace Him

Dan Illouz, a member of the Knesset who recently stirred political controversy by leaving the Likud party to join Yisrael Beiteinu, is expected to submit his resignation from the Knesset in the coming days. Following the completion of logistical procedures, Sabbatai Katesh, a well-known social activist and Chabad supporter listed on the Likud party slate, will take Illouz's place as a Knesset member representing Likud.

Earlier, Illouz published a sharp critique of his former party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He accused Likud under Netanyahu's leadership of becoming an executor for the agendas of Aryeh Deri and Yitzhak Goldknopf, leading to the departure of hundreds of thousands of right-wing Zionist voters. Illouz claimed that Netanyahu failed in his leadership, calling for him to step down immediately.

Illouz highlighted that about ten Knesset seats worth of genuine right-wing support left Likud due to its concessions to ultra-Orthodox interests, avoidance of responsibility, and inability to make decisive moves. He criticized the government's priorities, stating that Netanyahu surrendered to draft dodgers instead of promoting Zionism, reverted the country to a cycle of political rotations, and favored sectoral economic interests over free market principles.

He also condemned the government's failure to implement sovereignty, describing official statements as empty, and accused Netanyahu of evading responsibility for the worst massacre since the Holocaust by avoiding the establishment of a state investigative committee and blaming others. Illouz concluded that instead of the Betar spirit, the public received incitement and populism, and that those wishing to continue the legacy of Begin and Jabotinsky cannot support today's Likud.

Explaining his move to Yisrael Beiteinu, Illouz praised its leader Avigdor Lieberman as a principled right-wing figure who opposed the disengagement plan and the release of Sinwar, resigned over Qatari funding issues, and consistently warned of dangers. He noted Lieberman’s support for settlements as a resident of Nokdim and his proven record in various roles. Illouz called on the right-liberal public to strengthen Yisrael Beiteinu to form a national Zionist government without ultra-Orthodox and Arab parties, reiterating his imminent resignation from the Knesset after finalizing necessary steps.