First Charedi Likud MK Replaces Defector
Shabtai Katash, a 51-year-old Chabad Chasid and resident of Lod, is set to become Likud’s first Charedi Member of Knesset.
Katash, who currently chairs Likud’s Charedi headquarters and serves as head of the Lod religious council, will fill the seat vacated by MK Dan Illouz.
Illouz submitted his resignation to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana yesterday after announcing his departure to join the Yisrael Beiteinu party, ending his tenure with sharp criticism of Likud.
Katash secured the 45th spot on the Likud list after winning the party’s Charedi slot in the 2022 primaries against Bnei Brak city council member Yaakov Vider.
A real estate developer and businessman educated at the Tomchei Temimim yeshivas in Lod and Kfar Chabad, Katash has long been active in Likud’s internal forums, including serving on the secretariat of its Georgian Forum and co-founding Lod’s Sha’arei Ha’ir neighborhood.
