New Likud Members Set to Enter Knesset Following Resignations of Dan Illouz and Yuli Edelstein

Following the resignations of Dan Illouz and Yuli Edelstein from the Likud party, two new members who have not yet served in the Knesset are expected to take their places. Shabtai Katesh, the first Haredi representative in Likud, is running in the upcoming primaries for the chairman position of the Shephelah and Jerusalem region. The second is Erez Tadmor, a media personality and Channel 14 panelist, who is also competing for a spot on the Likud list for the 26th Knesset. Previously, Tzachi Hanegbi, former National Security Advisor, was ahead of Tadmor on the list but resigned after taking a new position.

These two candidates will gain parliamentary experience in the current Knesset before competing for positions in the next election. Despite Illouz and Edelstein announcing their departure from the party, Likud MK Avichai Boaron demanded they also resign from their Knesset seats within 24 hours, threatening to convene the Likud faction to declare them as defectors if they fail to do so. Boaron criticized their actions as unethical and a betrayal of their voters, emphasizing that both were elected by Likud members and should have resigned immediately upon leaving the party.

Additionally, MK Yoav Segalovich recently announced his resignation amid negotiations with Mansour Abbas and the Ra'am party. Michal Kaveh Slavni is set to replace him. These changes come as the race for the next Knesset heats up, with current parliamentary shifts potentially giving new candidates a significant advantage in securing spots on the party lists.