Ya'alon Leaves Likud, Starts New Party

Former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has officially left the Likud Party and will start a new party. In a letter he sent the Likud headquarters Ya'alon said he was leaving the party because it has abandoned its original values. He said he plans to remain loyal to the path of the "forefathers of Zionism" Ze'ev Jabotinsky and Menachem Begin, and to the national rightwing ideals "which we miss, but we will see better days yet."

A weekend poll published by Channel 2 News showed a party headed by Ya'alon receiving 6 seats in the Knesset, with the rightwing block taking 64 seats altogether, suggesting Ya'alon would be an essential component in a new Netanyahu government.

An Israel Radio poll showed the right receiving 67 seats, and Ya'alon's party taking only 4 seats, meaning it would pass the minimum threshold of 3.75 seats.

Israel Hayom cited sources in Ya'alon's circle who said the former defense minister would not align himself with the left, and that any attempt to associate him with the left "is ridiculous." They described him as representing the "sane, responsible and honest national right."