Avi Gabbai was the Minister of Environmental Affairs until Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu appointed Avigdor Lieberman to the post of Foreign Minister. He left his cabinet post in an act of protest over the appointment.

On Thursday, 29 Kislev, Gabbai announced he is moving over to the Machane Tzioni opposition party, which he feels better serves his ideology. He announced the break from Kulanu and hopes to work to rebuild Machane Tzioni, and many believe he might run in party primaries for the leadership position.

In most election polls during recent weeks the Machane Tzioni party drops down to about half of its current 24 seats.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)