Benny Gantz Vows to Continue Leading Blue and White Despite Polls and Party Departures

Amid polls placing Blue and White below the electoral threshold and a wave of resignations from his party, Benny Gantz, the party leader, firmly stated in a Saturday interview on "Meet the Press" that he has no intention of withdrawing from the race. Gantz dismissed suggestions that he should step aside and rejected offers of other roles, including ambassadorships, emphasizing his commitment to lead and unify Israel. He said, "The state of Israel needs unity, and therefore I will continue to fight."

Gantz addressed criticism regarding his insistence on leading the opposition camp, explaining that his motivation is a sense of national duty rather than ego. He expressed confidence in his leadership skills and resilience, stating he is prepared to face the pressures of leadership. He also clarified that he is not seeking employment and is focused on forming a broad coalition to establish a unity government that crosses political divides.

Responding to accusations that he obstructs change by holding onto his bloc's eight funding units, Gantz argued that he seeks "correct change" rather than a narrow government that would fail to address Israel's serious challenges. He reiterated his opposition to relying on Arab parties for government support after the October 7 attacks, calling it a mistake and emphasizing the need for a Zionist-led coalition.

Gantz discussed ongoing communications with former party member Hili Tropper and praised Gadi Eizenkot as a suitable prime minister candidate, though he ruled out running alongside him. He also rejected claims that he has repeatedly saved Benjamin Netanyahu's government, highlighting his refusal to join Netanyahu except under extraordinary circumstances. On internal party dynamics, Gantz acknowledged departures but insisted Blue and White is renewing and attracting new members.

Looking ahead, Gantz remains determined to unite the Israeli political center and right to form a responsible government capable of addressing security and social issues. He dismissed rumors about seeking other positions and reaffirmed his commitment to serve Israel, stating, "I will continue to serve the State of Israel."

Summary: Despite poor poll results and defections, Benny Gantz pledges to continue leading Blue and White, aiming to build a unity government and rejecting offers to step down or take other roles. He emphasizes national duty over ego and calls for a Zionist-led coalition post-October 7 attacks.

Points: - Benny Gantz vows to continue leading Blue and White despite polls below threshold and party resignations. - He rejects offers for other roles, emphasizing his commitment to national unity and leadership. - Gantz opposes reliance on Arab parties post-October 7, advocating a Zionist-led coalition. - He maintains ongoing dialogue with former members and praises Gadi Eizenkot as prime minister material. - Gantz denies accusations of saving Netanyahu's government and insists on pursuing "correct change." - Blue and White is renewing and attracting new members despite recent departures.

Topic: politics israel_relevant: true Entities: {"people":["Benny Gantz","Gadi Eizenkot","Hili Tropper","Benjamin Netanyahu","Amichai Super","Naftali Bennett","Yair Lapid","Ofer Winter"],"organizations":["Blue and White","Meet the Press"],"places":["Israel","Washington"]}