MK Mickey Levy, a former Knesset speaker, announced Monday evening that he will not run on the Together slate jointly led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party.
"I have just left Yair's home after a personal and moving meeting between us. We agreed that I will not be on the Yesh Atid slate for the next Knesset. Yair asked me to serve as chairman of the party's tribunal, and I was happy to agree," Levy wrote to his fellow party members.
Earlier Monday, former MK and minister Meir Cohen also announced that he would not run on the Together slate for the next Knesset. Cohen will be appointed chairman and president of the Yesh Atid Conference and will continue working within the party.
"Yair and I founded Yesh Atid together, and I have been a member since its very first day," Cohen said. He noted that his decision came after 25 years in the education system and 23 years in politics.
Cohen previously worked as a teacher and school principal, served two terms as Mayor of Dimona and twice as Welfare Minister. "I am happily and proudly making room for the party's next generation and for the people who will lead it into the future," he said.
Cohen stressed that despite his decision not to seek another term, he intends to remain active on behalf of the party.
"I believe in the party's values. I believe we are the best team in Israeli politics," he said.
"I will continue working so that Yesh Atid, with Yair at its helm, will lead and govern the State of Israel," Cohen added. In his new role, he is expected to serve as chairman and president of the Yesh Atid Conference."
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid addressed Cohen's decision and said he had asked him to run again in the next election.
"This is not a goodbye. Meir is my older brother. He has always been and will always be the person closest to me in Yesh Atid."
The departures of Levy and Cohen follow MK Elazar Stern's decision to leave the party after realizing he was unlikely to secure a place on its next Knesset slate. Stern subsequently joined Gadi Eisenkot's party.