Finance Minister and Kulanu party chairman Moshe Kahlon released an official statement Friday, after Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabay (Kulanu) resigned from politics in protest of Yisrael Beytenu joining the government. 

“Yesterday, Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabay informed me of his intention to resign from the government,” he revealed. “I updated the Prime Minister on the development and told him that I intend to continue to hold the Environmental Protection Ministry.” 

“Over the last year, we at the Environmental Protection Ministry laid important foundations to improve the quality of life of all citizens of Israel,” he continued. “The national plan for reducing pollutants around Haifa will continue, alongside other important initiatives begun during Gabay’s term.”

“The Ministry of Environmental Protection has made a significant impact on the quality of life for all of us and I intend to continue to implement the plans we started, collaborating with the CEO of the office and working with their dedicated employees.” 

“Avi Gabay was one of the founders of Kulanu,” he added. “He was among the first who believed in pushing for the establishment of an economic, social, and national party which would begin a new path.” 

“I thank him for his partnership and wish him success.”

Gabay announced his resignation Friday morning, citing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s decision to join Yisrael Beytenu to the coalition and appoint Avigdor Liberman as Defense Minister as a reason. 

His decision elicited immediate praise and support from MKs of the leftist Zionist Union party.