Political Shockwave: Yesh Atid Heavyweight Boaz Toporovsky Abruptly Quits Politics

Yesh Atid MK Boaz Toporovsky announced Wednesday that he is taking a break from political life and will not run in the coming election, marking another shakeup for Yair Lapid shortly after the formation of the new Together alliance with Naftali Bennett.

Toporovsky said he would continue serving in the current Knesset until the end of the term, but would not seek a place on the next Yesh Atid list.

“After more than 20 years of public work, during which I had the privilege of serving in a series of roles, from chairman of the National Union of Israeli Students to chairman of the Yesh Atid faction and coalition chairman during the Change Government, I have decided that the time has come to take a break from political life and open a new chapter,” he said.

Toporovsky has been one of Yesh Atid’s senior figures in recent years and served as coalition chairman during the Bennett-Lapid government.

In his statement, he called Yesh Atid “a home and a family,” saying he was proud of the party’s work and achievements. He also thanked Lapid personally for years of trust, support and friendship.

Toporovsky said Israel needs the “statesmanlike, responsible and unifying leadership” of Lapid, and wished success to the Together list led by Bennett and Lapid.

He said he was leaving the Knesset with a sense of satisfaction over his public work, but also with a sense of missed opportunity regarding the ongoing struggle to improve road safety, an issue he described as especially close to his heart.

Toporovsky also thanked his family, colleagues and supporters, and said he would soon submit his resignation to the Knesset speaker.

He wished success to Oz Haim, who is expected to enter the Knesset in his place. Haim is the director general of the Zionist Council and a longtime Yesh Atid activist.