Oz Haim, who served as director general of the Zionist Council in Israel, will enter the Knesset on Yesh Atid’s list, replacing MK Boaz Toporovsky after he announced his departure from politics on Wednesday.
Haim has held the role of director general of the Zionist Council in Israel for over four years, which functions as a branch of the World Zionist Organization (WZO) and focuses on deepening Jewish-Zionist identity and education.
Yesh Atid announced Haim’s addition after Toporovsky stated that he would soon submit his resignation to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and that he would not run on the Yesh Atid list in the upcoming elections.
“After more than 20 years of public service, I have decided to begin a new chapter in my life and take a break from political life,” Toporovsky stated.
“Yesh Atid was, and will remain, a home and a family for me, a place where I grew, learned, and worked alongside wonderful people,” he added.
Yesh Atid thanks Toporovsky for years of service
Upon Toporovsky’s departure, Yesh Atid thanked him “for years of significant, dedicated, and values-driven public service.”
Yesh Atid noted that Toporovsky was one of the party’s founders and “a central partner in its path over the years, has acted with professionalism and deep commitment to the citizens of Israel.”
“Throughout his public career, he devoted extensive efforts to the fight against road accidents and to promoting road safety, alongside broad parliamentary and public activity on behalf of the state and its citizens,” the party added.
The party also stated that although Toporovsky would be leaving the Knesset and taking a break from politics, he will remain a member of Yesh Atid for the time being.
Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid said that “Boaz is one of the founders of Yesh Atid, my friend, and will continue to be a member of our extended family. I thank him for his years of service to the Israeli public. I wish him success in his future path.”
Toprovsky previously served under Bennett, Lapid
Toporovsky had served as coalition whip in the government led by former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Lapid between 2021 and 2022. He also previously served as a member of the Knesset in the party between 2013 and 2015.
Toporovsky’s departure comes after Yesh Atid’s recent merger with Bennett in their new party, named Together, which will run in the upcoming elections and be led by Bennett. General elections are scheduled to take place no later than October 27.
Toporovsky said he was leaving the Knesset with “great pride in what we accomplished together,” and that he wished future success to Yesh Atid and the Together list.
