Feiglin addresses supporters
Feiglin addresses supportersYonatan Sindel / Flash 90

MK Moshe Feiglin, who has been a key player in the Likud party since 2002 and has built a formidable power base there – has called on his supporters to leave the party and join a new party that he intends to form.

"Yesterday I announced that I was leaving Likud, and I call on all of my comrades to do the same,” he wrote on Facebook Tuesday morning. “We will create a political structure. We will turn to young people of all hues and create a substantial alternative to both Right and Left.”

Feiglin will apparently not contend for the 20th Knesset, however. “It appears that we will not be ready with the political tool for the upcoming elections – although various options have been opened – but I do not see any reason to hurry,” he explained.

Feiglin estimated that the next elections will take place in about 18 months' time.

"The Israeli leadership, in all of its shades, does not have the ability to face the most basic challenges that we are facing, and we must prepare the alternative in a thorough and deep way,” Feiglin wrote.

On Monday, when he announced he was leaving Likud, Feiglin told his supporters: "I was hoping that Likud could bring those of us who are straightforward to the prime minister's seat, but little by little I understood that we could not."

“The creation of a new life, a new birth is required here, a time of growing on her own and hopefully soon – a faith-based leadership, leadership of freedom to the people of Israel."

Feiglin said that when he entered the Knesset, he believed he could accomplish this goal from within the Likud.

"Israel has begun to be exposed to the idea of an alternative freedom, a Jewish one, from all aspects," he said. "But over the past year I began to feel that the system in general and in particular under Likud – was ceasing to accommodate me and my vision. I began to feel that I could become [...] part of the problem rather than offer an alternative solution."