A former member of Israel’s Knesset and current Yisrael Beytenu candidate has publicly criticized Likud, arguing that the party no longer upholds key right-wing values that originally drew him into politics. In a detailed reflection on his political journey, he contends that while Likud continues to express commitments to free-market economics, sovereignty in the Land of Israel, military victory over Israel’s enemies, and universal military service, its actions have frequently undermined these principles.
The former legislator traces his political engagement back to his first day in Israel after making aliyah, noting that his initial support for Likud was rooted in a belief that the party championed those four pillars. However, over time, he became disillusioned, ultimately concluding that Likud actively prevents progress on these issues despite its rhetoric.
On the question of security and victory, he points to a 2016 memorandum Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman sent to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top military officials warning of Hamas’s plans to carry out incursions and take hostages in Israeli border communities. According to the memo, these warnings were dismissed as insignificant. The subsequent outbreak of violence in October 2023, with devastating attacks in communities such as Be’eri and Nir Oz, underscores for him the consequences of ignoring these early alarms. Liberman’s resignation in 2018 over a ceasefire agreement that allowed Qatari funds into Gaza further illustrates, in the writer’s view, Likud’s failure to adopt a firm stance against terrorism.
Regarding sovereignty, the critic notes ongoing disappointments over a decade-and-a-half-long freeze on extending Israeli law to parts of the West Bank, a promise regularly made and broken. He faults Netanyahu for stalling or blocking legislative efforts on this front, framing the party’s approach as pragmatic but ultimately a retreat from its stated right-wing commitments. In contrast, he describes Yisrael Beytenu as more consistent in advocating for Israeli sovereignty in these contested areas.
On economic policy, the former Knesset member credits Liberman’s tenure as finance minister for efforts to break entrenched agricultural monopolies and pursue open-market reforms aimed at lowering living costs. He accuses the subsequent Likud-led coalitions of succumbing to special interest groups and reversing reforms to maintain political coalitions, thereby harming taxpayers.
Finally, the matter of military service is highlighted as a central dividing line. He recounts how Liberman insisted on passing the controversial universal draft law, which would require all Israeli citizens, including Haredi Jews, to serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Likud’s reluctance to fully support this legislation, resulting in multiple elections and internal party conflicts, is seen as evidence of its failure to defend a unifying Zionist ideal.
The former legislator emphasizes that Yisrael Beytenu is not solely a party for the Russian-speaking immigrant community, but represents a diverse coalition including veterans, religious Zionists, Druze, and secular Israelis united by a commitment to the same core principles. He appeals to right-wing voters, particularly olim, to support Yisrael Beytenu as the genuine political home for those prioritizing sovereignty, security, economic freedom, and shared national service in the upcoming elections.