Yesh Atid Lawmaker Yoav Segalovitz Resigns from Knesset - will not retain his parliamentary seat

Israeli lawmaker Yoav Segalovitz announced on Thursday that he is stepping down from the Knesset and ending his tenure with the centrist Yesh Atid party, saying he intends to pursue a new path while relinquishing the parliamentary mandate he received on the party's ticket.

"It has been my privilege over the years to influence issues that are close to my heart, both as a member of Knesset and as Deputy Minister of Public Security," Segalovitz said in a statement. He thanked Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, fellow lawmakers and party activists for their partnership and wished the party success in the future.

Seat to be vacated after coordinated departure

Segalovitz said he believes it would not be appropriate to continue serving in the Knesset under a mandate awarded through Yesh Atid after deciding to leave the party.

His departure was coordinated with Lapid and carried out "with mutual respect," according to the statement. Lapid thanked Segalovitz for his years of public service and praised his contribution to the party.

"Throughout his years in Yesh Atid, in the Knesset and as Deputy Minister of Public Security, he served the citizens of Israel with integrity and professionalism while upholding the rule of law," Lapid said. "During the government of change, we worked together to combat crime in Israel, and I thank him for his contribution."

Future political plans remain unclear

Segalovitz did not announce plans to join another political party.

His resignation follows media reports last week that he was considering joining the Arab party Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas, and running in a realistic position on its electoral list in the upcoming election.

According to those reports, supporters of the governing coalition viewed such a move as an attempt to facilitate Ra'am's future participation in a governing coalition, while figures aligned with the opposition's broader "change bloc" argued it could strengthen Ra'am's independent political position relative to other Arab parties. Segalovitz has not publicly commented on the reports.

Veteran police commander turned politician

Segalovitz, 67, previously headed the Israel Police Investigations Division, overseeing several high-profile corruption investigations involving senior public officials, including former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

After entering politics with Yesh Atid, he served as Deputy Minister of Public Security in the Bennett-Lapid government, where he led a cross-government initiative to combat violent crime in Israel's Arab communities. The program was discontinued after the current government took office under National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

His resignation marks the end of a decade-long parliamentary career and adds to the political reshuffling ahead of Israel's next general election.