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Eitan Ginzburg Quits Blue and White as Party Loses Fourth MK

The exit raises the risk of seat transfers to the coalition under Israel's replacement list rules.

Overview

  • Eitan Ginzburg, who announced his exit Tuesday, became the fourth Blue and White lawmaker to leave in recent months.
  • Chili Tropper said in a joint statement with Benny Gantz that he will stay in the Knesset to avoid giving the coalition another vote tied to the draft exemption bill.
  • Blue and White now counts only three additional MKs besides Gantz and is described in polls as falling below the electoral threshold.
  • Under Israel's party list system, a resignation by Tropper or Orit Farkash-Hacohen could seat the next Blue and White–New Hope candidate, who sits with the coalition, which reporters say could lift its support to 69 MKs.
  • Realignment is accelerating, with reports that Ginzburg may join the Bennett–Lapid Together list and with Gadi Eisenkot adding former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen to his Yashar party.