UTJ MK Yaakov Litzman says he won’t run in next election

26 December 2021, 5:29 pm

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UTJ MK Yaakov Litzman seen in the assembly hall of the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, on July 1, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

United Torah Judaism MK Yaakov Litzman, 73, says he will not run in any upcoming election.

“If there are new elections, I won’t be running,” Litzman tells the Knesset channel in an interview. “I’m not going to the Knesset again. At my age… I’ve served in the Knesset for more than 23 years.”

Litzman immediately clarifies that it has nothing to do with the criminal investigations into his behavior, and claims that he has “no plea deal” lined up.

Litzman, who previously served as health minister, is expected to be indicted for obstruction of justice and breach of trust.

The pending charges relate to suspicions that Litzman used his former position to prevent the extradition to Australia of Malka Leifer, a former principal of an Orthodox girls school in Melbourne accused of sexually assaulting minors (Leifer was recently extradited after a years-long saga); and to prevent the closure of a deli cited for health violations.

Earlier today, Shas leader and MK Aryeh Deri was indicted on tax offenses as part of a plea deal that will see him resign from the Knesset, though he has vowed to remain in politics and return to lawmaking in the future.