Likud's Yuli Edelstein leaves party after two decades, reportedly will start new right-wing party

Lead

MK Yuli Edelstein announced on Friday that he is leaving Likud after more than two decades, a move that signals a significant shift in Israel's political landscape. In a press conference, Edelstein described the decision as difficult, acknowledging that supporters who have backed him for years might be surprised by his departure. "That is a very difficult sentence to say," he said, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Edelstein's exit comes amid a deepening rift with Likud over the haredi enlistment bill, which he has refused to advance as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee unless it includes significant enlistment targets and sanctions. His position has put him in direct confrontation with the haredi parties and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Coverage Comparison

The Jerusalem Post, the source of all reporting on this story, has covered Edelstein's departure and its aftermath across multiple articles. The first report, published on July 4, detailed Edelstein's announcement and his expected opposition to coalition legislation related to the haredi parties' deal with Netanyahu. It also noted that he is expected to launch a new political party, apparently alongside figures such as Gilad Erdan and Ayelet Shaked.

A second article, published on June 24, reported that rabbis and public leaders from the religious community had approached Edelstein and Shaked to discuss creating a new political framework. That initiative, according to sources cited by the Walla news site, would target mainstream right-wing voters disappointed with the current coalition, as well as modern Orthodox Israelis who do not align with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party.

A third article, published on July 5, analyzed interviews Edelstein and opposition leader Yair Lapid gave on Channel 12's Meet the Press. The article noted that despite their political differences, the two men converged on several points, including the belief that October 7 fundamentally changed the country's political priorities and the need for broader Zionist political frameworks.

Key Claims

• Edelstein leaves Likud: Edelstein announced his departure from Likud on Friday, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. He said it was a difficult sentence to say, acknowledging that friends and supporters might be surprised.

• Expected vote against coalition legislation: Edelstein is expected to vote against legislation being advanced by the coalition as part of the haredi parties' deal with Netanyahu, according to the Jerusalem Post.

• New party formation: Edelstein is expected to launch a new political party, apparently alongside figures such as Gilad Erdan and Ayelet Shaked, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. Sources familiar with the matter told the Post that the official launch is expected to take place after Tisha B'Av, in about three weeks. Other names being considered include attorney Shvut Raanan, who left Yoaz Hendel's Reservist Party, and Davidi Ben Zion, deputy head of the Samaria Regional Council.

• Rift over haredi enlistment bill: The rift between Edelstein and Likud has deepened in recent months over the haredi enlistment bill, the Jerusalem Post reported. Edelstein, as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, refused to advance an enlistment bill that would not include significant enlistment targets as well as personal and institutional sanctions.

• Rabbi-led initiative: Rabbis and public leaders have approached Edelstein and Shaked to discuss a new political framework aimed at mainstream right-wing voters and modern Orthodox Israelis, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, citing Walla. Shaked told the Post, "You'll have to wait" when asked if Israelis could expect to vote for her in the upcoming election. Edelstein did not respond to the Post's request for comment.

• Erdan's intention: Former Israeli UN ambassador Gilad Erdan stated last month that he intends to establish a new right-wing party to contend against Netanyahu's Likud, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. In an interview with Army Radio, he said he would work to create a party that "would not rely on extremists."

• Hendel's Reservist Party: Yoaz Hendel told the Post that his Reservist Party is expected to join a political alliance ahead of the upcoming elections, as it is not expected to pass the electoral threshold on its own. Hendel describes himself as a right-wing, liberal nationalist and is generally considered center-right.

Perspectives

• Yuli Edelstein: Edelstein's decision to leave Likud reflects his opposition to the haredi enlistment bill and his desire for a new political path. He has not detailed his future plans but is expected to join or form a new party.

• Yair Lapid: The opposition leader argued in a Channel 12 interview that Israel needs a leader from the Right and expressed support for Naftali Bennett as a potential leader. He also stressed that October 7 changed the country's political priorities.

• Gilad Erdan: The former UN ambassador has announced his intention to establish a new right-wing party that would not rely on extremists, positioning it as an alternative to Likud.

• Yoaz Hendel: Hendel's Reservist Party is considering joining a political alliance to overcome the electoral threshold, aligning with broader efforts to create new political frameworks on the Right.