MK Michal Shir announced that she was leaving Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope party and joining Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party on Sunday.
“I am finishing a fascinating period with my friend Gideon Sa’ar,” Shir wrote on Twitter. “I had the privilege to be part of the dramatic political move that led to the end of Benjamin Netanyahu’s premiership. Today I am joining Prime Minister Yair Lapid and his party Yesh Atid, which is the Central political force that is standing like a fortified wall against [those] who are attempting to destroy us from within,” Shir wrote.
אני מסיימת היום תקופה מרתקת עם חברי גדעון סער. נפלה בחלקי הזכות להיות חלק מהמהלך הפוליטי הדרמטי שהוביל לקץ שלטונו של בנימין נתניהו.אני מצטרפת היום לראש הממשלה יאיר לפיד ולמפלגת יש עתיד שהיא הכוח הפוליטי המרכזי אשר עומד כחומה בצורה מול מי שמנסה לפרק אותנו מבפנים.
— Michal Shir - מיכל שיר (@MichalShir) July 31, 2022
Shir resigned from the Knesset after the announcement, as required by law in order to join a different party.
The next person on the New Hope list, Hila Shay-Vazan, announced that she did not want to become an MK for such a short period, turned down the offer and said she was leaving the list.
Next on the list is Mishel Buskila, the Deputy Mayor of Ashkelon. Buskila, who is currently visiting Morocco, will need to resign his position if he becomes an MK.
Lapid welcomed Shir soon after the announcement.
מברך את ח״כ מיכל שיר על הצטרפותה ליש עתיד. מיכל היא ח"כ מצוינת וחרוצה עם ניסיון רב. יש לפנינו עבודה רבה. נמשיך לעבוד ביחד לטובת אזרחי ישראל. ברוכה הבאה @MichalShir
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) July 31, 2022
“Michal is an excellent and diligent MK with broad experience. There is a lot of work ahead of us. We will continue to work together for the good of the citizens of Israel,” Lapid wrote.
New Hope breaking down?
Another development in New Hope occurred Thursday when veteran MK Benny Begin announced that he would not be running in the upcoming election. New Hope stated that the MK, who is the son of former prime minister Menahem Begin, said he was stepping down since he was approaching the age of 80. He will remain a member of New Hope, he said.
“Benny, the Israeli Knesset is losing today a public servant of the first degree, ethical, diligent and someone who retains honorable discourse even with those he does not agree with,” Lapid wrote on Twitter.
“I am sure that you will continue to serve the public and give to Israeli society outside of the political sphere. Good luck, my dear friend,” Lapid wrote.
Begin was a former Likud MK, but left the party after Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu was indicted. He was a strong critic of Netanyahu and repeatedly called for his resignation.
Begin, professionally a geologist, was first elected to the Knesset in 1988, and during his career served as a minister of science and minister without portfolio.