Knesset Member Eliyahu Revivo announced Thursday that he will not compete in Likud's upcoming primary elections. In a statement to party members, Revivo said he is concluding a significant chapter in parliament while stressing his continued loyalty to the movement. "Likud is my home and my public mission has not ended," he wrote. He characterized politics as a means rather than an end, stating: "I am finishing a fascinating and meaningful chapter in the Knesset, but I am not leaving the house. Likud is my home and my public mission has not ended—it is simply moving, thank G-d, to the next chapter."
Israeli Politics
Likud's Revivo Won't Run in Primaries
Revivo announced he will not seek reelection to the Knesset but emphasized his commitment to Likud remains unchanged, following a prolonged internal battle over the party's direction and character
The announcement follows months during which Revivo championed a particular vision within Likud, engaging in a sustained conflict with fellow MK Tali Gotliv over fundamental questions about the party's identity and how it should conduct itself.
Throughout this period, Revivo advocated for preserving what he viewed as Likud's statesmanlike character and expanding the party's electoral appeal.
During the "Likudiada" events held in Eilat in recent months, Revivo sharply criticised Gotliv in an interview with Kikar Hashabbat. He labeled her "Likud's Trojan horse" and accused her of damaging the entire right-wing camp. In leaked recordings, Revivo was heard saying: "She's doing us crazy damage. You can say that from a studio—you don't need to be an MK for that."
According to Revivo, his goal was to prevent internal conflicts and inflammatory political rhetoric from alienating voters from Likud. "We need to decide: Are we, as veteran Likudniks, willing to surrender to Gotlivism?" he asked in the recording. "Or do we say, 'Wait a minute, Likud is a movement we grew up with, it has values, it has a path.'"
Revivo now emphasizes that despite ending his Knesset tenure, he is not abandoning Likud. For him, the decision not to run represents the conclusion of one chapter and the continuation of public service in a different framework, though he did not specify what form that service will take.
His decision marks another milestone in the ongoing struggle over Likud's identity and how the party presents itself to the public ahead of the next election cycle. The movement has recently been consumed by internal battles over reserved slots on the party list, regional contests, and the composition of its Knesset slate.
Eliyahu Revivo
