Shelah ditches Yair Lapid for new party but fails to draft top figures
"The failed experience of Blue and White proved that it is not enough to say 'anything but Bibi [Netanyahu]' and bring together a team of stars," Shelah said.
By GIL HOFFMANYesh Atid MK Ofer Shelah with attorney Roi Cohen at the press conference at Tel Aviv's Beit Sokolow, December 24, 2020. (photo credit: Courtesy)Yesh Atid MK Ofer Shelah announced at a press conference on Thursday afternoon that he is leaving Yesh Atid to form a new party. KAN speculated on Thursday morning that Blue and White's Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn alongside Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai might join as well. But instead, Shelah's partner in the new party is Roy Cohen, who heads an organization of independent workers."The failed experience of Blue and White proved that it is not enough to say 'anything but Bibi [Netanyahu]' and bring together a team of stars," Shelah said. "The next government must have in it a worldview that many Israelis believe in."Shelah said the time for generals is over. He called on others in the Center-Left to join him.In a reference to Yamina and to former Likud minister Gideon Sa'ar's New Hope Party, Shelah lamented that Israelis on the Center-Left intend to vote for parties on the Right. He called on them to rethink their decision.Shelah was once a close confidant and friend of Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and helped him establish the party, but he decided to challenge his leadership. Lapid did not give in and the leadership primary never happened.Yesh Atid wished Shelah success and thanked him for his cooperation over the past nine years.He will be replaced in the Knesset by Yael Ron Ben-Moshe, who is director-general of Blue and White.
