By JPOST.COM STAFF
MK Yitzhak Levy announced Wednesday that he will not run for the next Knesset and will instead leave politics, in light of the decision by the new Habayit Hayehudi party to opt for a committee-appointed candidates list instead of a promised primary ahead of February's general election.
"I have always believed in opening up our ranks and involving the public in choosing the [party] leadership. Unfortunately, that is not the case this time, and I have therefore decided to withdraw my application [to be a candidate for the party's Knesset list]," Levy said.
He first entered the Knesset in 1988 and has been an MK and minister representing the National Religious Party and the National Union. He served as transportation minister, education minister and tourism minister, among other positions.
Levy, born in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1947, made aliya in 1957 and is a resident of Kfar Maimon, west of Netivot, and a father of five. He intends to return to the education field, where he worked before he entered politics.