With the Knesset dissolved and another election underway, Minister of Regional Cooperation Issawi Freij of Meretz announced July 5 that he will not be running in the next election. His statement on Facebook read, “After much thought and consultations with my family and partners, I announced wholeheartedly that I have decided to take a break from the Knesset, though not from public life.” He continued, “I have informed Prime Minister Yair Lapid — a leader, a friend and a partner — of my decision.”

Sharp-eyed observers noticed that Freij’s post was missing an important name: none other than Minister of Health Nitzan Horowitz, leader of Meretz. It could have been another salvo in the attack Freij launched against Horowitz in an interview with N12 News, in which he called on Horowitz to step down as party leader and make do with being a regular member of Knesset.

“Nitzan Horowitz is a man of values. He was successful, but I regret to say that although he brought the party six seats, he didn’t know how to maintain them. Nitzan failed as far as leadership is concerned. He could be a wonderful member of Knesset, a wonderful member of the party, but a leader? No.”

Other members of Meretz, including Minister of Environmental Protection Tamar Zandberg and Knesset members Mossi Raz and Michal Rozin were quick to tweet flattering messages of support to Freij. Even Lapid was moved by Freij’s surprising announcement. He took to Twitter and wrote, “Issawi is not only an inspiring leader and true public servant. He is also a friend and partner.”