Lapid says opposition members will resign from key Knesset committee if Edelstein ousted as head

By Ariela Karmel

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21 July 2025, 4:38 pm

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Ariela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.

Opposition Leader MK Yair Lapid leads a Yesh Atid faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on July 21, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Opposition leader Yair Lapid says that if the government ousts Likud MK Yuli Edelstein from his role as chairman of the powerful Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, opposition members on the committee will resign.

“I announce here to the prime minister: if Yuli Edelstein is removed from his position, the opposition members serving on the committee will resign,” Lapid declares, speaking to the press before a Yesh Atid faction meeting.

He says that Edelstein’s removal is a blatant political maneuver by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance a “draft-dodging law” to accede to the demands of the ultra-Orthodox parties.

“Let every Jewish mother know that Benjamin Netanyahu is selling our children, our security, and the very idea of equality before the law to the Haredim,” he says.

“This is a minority government that lacks the legitimacy to promote this measure,” he continues.

When asked about next steps, Lapid says he will work during the upcoming recess to “gather 61 votes to dissolve the government” and trigger new elections.

He insists that after the recess, a new government will be elected and, going forward, “Anyone who does not enlist will not receive a single shekel from the state.”