MK who left Likud for Lieberman: "Netanyahu failed in leading the country, he must go home"

MK Dan Illouz recently left the Likud party due to his opposition to the draft exemption law and announced on Wednesday that he is joining the Yisrael Beiteinu party led by Avigdor Lieberman. Today, he published a statement in which he addressed his decision, sparing no sharp criticism for his former party and its leader:

"Netanyahu failed in leading the country, and he must go home, and the sooner the better."

In a post on the social network X, Illouz noted that he expects to resign from the Knesset in the coming days, once logistical matters are handled.

An uncompromising struggle against the draft evasion law

Illouz explained the background of his decision, rooted in his cooperation with Yisrael Beiteinu:

"In the last term, I led an uncompromising struggle against the draft evasion law together with the Knesset members of Yisrael Beiteinu. Unfortunately, Likud under Netanyahu's leadership has become the execution contractor for Deri and Goldknopf. Hundreds of thousands of Zionist right-wingers have left Likud since the last elections. I represented their voice in this Knesset, and I will continue to do so. Our place has long since not been in the Likud that has lost its way."

Illouz detailed what he perceives as Netanyahu's failures:

"Instead of Zionism - Netanyahu surrendered to the draft evaders. Instead of decisiveness - he returned us to the concept of rounds. Instead of a free market - he promoted a sectoral economy of interest groups and cronies. Instead of applying sovereignty as he promised - just empty declarations. Instead of taking responsibility for the greatest massacre we have experienced since the Holocaust as a result of the policy he led - he continues to run away from responsibility, evades the establishment of a state commission of inquiry and blames the whole world. Instead of Betar dignity - incitement and populism."

"Anyone who wants to continue the path of Begin and Jabotinsky out of integrity and love for the country cannot vote for today's Likud," Illouz concluded.

He further addressed his decision to join Lieberman, whom he described as "a principled and consistent right-wing man who opposed the disengagement, opposed the release of Yahya Sinwar, resigned from the government because of the immunity for Hamas and the Qatari money, and warned again and again about the danger of October 7th." He added: "Anyone who wants a Zionist national government, without Haredi and Arab parties, must vote and strengthen Yisrael Beiteinu."