Tzvika Foghel Exits Otzma Yehudit Party and Withdraws from Knesset Race
MK Tzvika Foghel announced he will not run for the 26th Knesset with Otzma Yehudit. The former National Security Committee chairman withdrew after being pushed down the electoral list by party leader Itamar Ben Gvir.
Knesset Member Brigadier General (Res.) Tzvika Foghel announced that he will not run for the 26th Knesset on behalf of the Otzma Yehudit party. This decision comes four years after party leader Itamar Ben Gvir brought him into the political movement.
Foghel, who served as the Chairman of the National Security Committee during the last Knesset term, decided to step down following the realignment of the party's electoral list. In the newly structured list behind Itamar Ben Gvir, Tally Gotliv and Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf were placed in the second and third spots, respectively, with Limor Sonn Har-Melech in fifth. Yitzhak Kroizer was placed sixth. Foghel, who was pushed further down the list, chose to withdraw his candidacy.
Statement by Tzvika Foghel
In his official announcement, Tzvika Foghel stated:
"It was my honor to represent the people of Israel in the Knesset and as Chairman of the National Security Committee, and I had the privilege of being part of the Otzma Yehudit party. In recent years, I gave my all for the people of Israel and the State of Israel, especially to ensure that the State of Israel would emerge victorious after the terrible disaster we endured. Unfortunately, continuing my work in the Knesset or in a future government is not possible in the way I had planned. I wish my colleagues in the party great success. I will continue to act and work for the nation and the state in any way possible. I am closing a chapter, but the mission continues."
Reaction from Itamar Ben Gvir
Otzma Yehudit Chairman and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir bid farewell to Foghel, praising his contribution:
"I thank my dear friend, MK Tzvika Foghel, from the bottom of my heart for years of dedicated, determined, and uncompromising work for the security of the state, the people of Israel, and the Otzma Yehudit party. Tzvika dedicated his life to the security of the state and acted over the years out of a deep sense of mission, courage, and belief in our path. In his role as Chairman of the National Security Committee, he led a series of significant moves to strengthen security, governance, security agencies, and rapid response teams."
