Ze’ev Elkin speaks on May 18 2020. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
At the end of December, Likud minister and longtime confidant to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Ze’ev Elkin stunned the Israeli political community by announcing that he was leaving the party. Elkin decided to join forces with the newly formed New Hope party led by Netanyahu’s top rival, Gideon Sa’ar, who also bolted Likud in order to challenge the incumbent premier for his job.