MK Dan Illoz announced this evening (Wednesday) that he has joined the Yisrael Beiteinu party led by Avigdor Lieberman, after leaving the Likud following his opposition to the conscription law.
Upon joining, Illoz announced that he supported Lieberman for prime minister.
He will be placed in a realistic place on the list.
Illoz, who was elected to the Knesset on behalf of the Likud, was one of the leaders of the struggle against the conscription law within the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. He said that his position cost him a political price, after he was removed from Knesset committees and denied the opportunity to submit bills.
In his statement, Illoz attacked the Likud leadership, saying: "The Likud has become a contractor for Deri and Goldknopf.".
Illoz explained that he chose to join Lieberman's party because, according to him, it currently represents the national and liberal values in which he believes. He praised Lieberman as a "strong, experienced and consistent leader," and defined Yisrael Beitenu as "the home of everyone who believes in a Jewish, Zionist and liberal state and in the spirit of Jabotinsky and Begin.".
Lieberman welcomed Illoz's joining: "A significant reinforcement for the Zionist, national and liberal camp.".
According to him, Illoz has demonstrated throughout his public career courage and willingness to pay a personal price for his principles, primarily the struggle against the draft law and the demand for equality of burden.
Likud's response to Illoz joining Lieberman:
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Boaz Bismuth responded: "The unofficial opposition has become official.
""I was involved in recruiting for the IDF. He was involved in recruiting for Lieberman. It's a shame, he would have said I would have bought him a chair.".
