MK Michal Shir of the New Hope party headed by Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar has announced that she is leaving New Hope and joining Yesh Atid, the party headed by interim Prime Minister Yair Lapid.
"Today, I'm concluding what was a very exciting period of my life, working together with my friend Gideon Sa'ar," Shir stated. "I had the merit of being part of a dramatic political process that led to the end of the rule of Benjamin Netanyahu," she added.
"Now I am joining Prime Minister Yair Lapid and his party, Yesh Atid, which is the main political force standing guard against all those seeking to divide us from within."
Sa'ar responded with a message wishing her well. "Wishing you all the best in the future, Michal!" he wrote on Twitter.
Shir was, like Sa'ar, a member of the Likud party before leaving with Sa'ar to found New Hope, which is now joining up with Defense Minister Benny Gantz's Blue & White party. Yoaz Hendel, who was also part of New Hope, has meanwhile joined Ayelet Shaked of the Yamina party to form the Zionist Spirit party.
PM Lapid sent a welcoming message to his newest colleague: "I congratulate MK Michal Shir on joining Yesh Atid. Michal is an excellent Knesset member, hard-working and with a large amount of experience. We have a lot of work ahead, and we will continue to work together for the benefit of Israeli citizens."
From the Likud party, MK Miri Regev responded with derision. "What won't people do for a Knesset seat! These are people who grew up in the Likud movement and then deserted us for the 'fashionable' New Hope party. And now, shamelessly, they're heading straight into the arms of Yair Lapid, Tibi, and Abbas. It's now that we can see, based on all these Michal Shirs, how vital it is to vote for a stable list. Now everyone can see how vital it is to vote for people who are loyal to their values."