Tzachi Hanegbi, a prominent political figure who has served as a longtime ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a stalwart of the Likud party, has publicly declared he will not support his party in the upcoming election. Instead, Hanegbi intends to cast his ballot for Yisrael Beytenu, led by Avigdor Liberman. This move represents a major shift for Hanegbi, who has been associated with Likud for nearly five decades.

In explaining his decision, Hanegbi expressed deep dissatisfaction with the current direction of the Likud-led coalition. He specifically criticized the influence of what he described as "messianic" and "racist" elements within the Prime Minister's political bloc. By breaking with his lifelong voting habits, Hanegbi is signaling a protest against the ideological composition of the current government coalition.

The announcement is notable given Hanegbi’s extensive history within the Israeli security establishment and his close proximity to Netanyahu over the years. While Hanegbi has not provided a detailed roadmap for his future political career, his public endorsement of an opposition party highlights growing internal tensions among veteran members of the Likud party regarding the influence of far-right coalition partners.