MK Steinitz Announces Retirement From Politics

MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud) announced his retirement from political life on Tuesday after 23 years in public office.

“After 23 years as a member of Knesset, during which I had the privilege of serving as finance minister, intelligence minister, energy minister, and chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, I felt my family and I deserved to breathe fresh air,” said Yuval Steinitz.

“I’m proud of my accomplishments within the framework of my various roles, in the economy, diplomacy, and security. Some [of these accomplishments] were of historic significance, such as: exposing the Syrian nuclear program; devising a biannual national budget that was the first of its sort in the world; Israel’s entry into the OECD; saving the economy from the global crisis between 2009 and 2012; the national gas project and turning Israel into an energy power.”

Netanyahu said in response to the announcement that Steinitz was a “loyal partner in the successful economic policies we spearheaded during the best decade in Israel’s history. Our common fight to extract gas from the sea, despite all the populist pressure, brought Israeli citizens tens of billions of shekels – for education, welfare, health, and infrastructure. As finance minister, Yuval worked to lower prices and taxes and as a member of the diplomatic-security Cabinet, he was a partner in particularly important decisions regarding Israel’s security. I am certain that Yuval will continue to contribute to the people of Israel and our beloved country. Good luck, Yuval!”

Steinitz’s announcement came just five days after Likud MK Yuli Edelstein said last week that he would not vie for the party leadership in the upcoming Likud primary election.