Political feud rose up ahead of Israeli elections

In a shock move, Zionist foreign ministrer and Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman announced Tuesday that his deputy Danny Ayalon will not be included in the party’s next Knesset roster.

The move sent shockwaves through the political arena, as Ayalon is considered to be one of Lieberman’s confidants.

Sources within the party were stunned by the move, which they said caught them blindsided, given the two’s good relationship.

The past few days have seen Lieberman “clean house” in Yisrael Beiteinu, forcing out two high-profile party figures MK Anastassia Michaeli and Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov.

Yisrael Beiteinu’s top-five slots will now include Lieberman himself, Yair Shamir, Uzi Landau, Sofa Landver and Yitzhak Aharonovitch.