MK Eliyahu Revivo Won't Run in Likud Primaries but Remains in Party

MK Eliyahu Revivo announced on Thursday that he will not participate in the upcoming Likud primaries, signaling the end of a significant chapter in his parliamentary career. However, Revivo emphasized that he is not leaving the Likud party, describing it as his home and stating that his public service mission continues in a new form. "Politics was never an end in itself for me but a tool for service," he wrote in his message to party members.

Revivo's decision follows months of intense internal conflict within Likud, particularly with MK Tali Gottlieb, over the party's identity and direction. Revivo advocated for preserving Likud's institutional character and broadening its support base. During the recent Likudiada event in Eilat, he sharply criticized Gottlieb, calling her a "Trojan horse" damaging the right-wing camp and accusing her of causing significant harm to the party.

He expressed concern that internal disputes and aggressive political styles could alienate Likud voters, questioning whether longtime party members would accept what he termed "Gottliebism" or uphold the party's traditional values and path. Despite stepping back from the Knesset race, Revivo made clear he intends to continue his public service within Likud, though he did not specify how.

This development marks another milestone in the ongoing struggle over Likud's identity and candidate list composition ahead of the next elections. The party has recently been embroiled in internal battles over reserved slots, district contests, and the overall makeup of its Knesset slate.