MK Dan Illouz quits Knesset after switch to Yisrael Beytenu, haredi man takes Likud spot

MK Dan Illouz announced his resignation from the Knesset on Tuesday, following his departure from Likud to Yisrael Beytenu. He cited opposition to the haredi-backed draft evasion legislation promoted by Netanyahu, Goldknopf, and Deri. Illouz will be replaced by Shabtai Katash, a haredi member of Lod's Religious Council, the next person on Likud's list.

MK Dan Illouz announced his resignation from the Knesset on Tuesday, following his departure from Likud to Yisrael Beytenu. In a post on X/Twitter, he said he resigned after the dissolution of the Knesset to prevent adding another vote in favor of the draft evasion laws promoted by Netanyahu, Goldknopf, and Deri. Illouz has been a vocal critic of the haredi-backed legislation, which critics argued would encourage draft evasion amid the IDF's severe manpower shortage. He wrote that he acted to block the legislation, which contradicts Likud's declared values. Illouz will be replaced by Shabtai Katash, a haredi member of Lod's Religious Council, the next person on Likud's list. The resignation comes while the Knesset is in recess ahead of elections. Last week, Illouz announced he would join Yisrael Beytenu and endorse Liberman for prime minister. He left Likud last month, saying he could not remain in a party he could no longer vote for. He criticized Likud as a 'subcontractor' for haredi party leaders and called on Likud voters to vote for Yisrael Beytenu.