Israeli Lawmaker Hopes for Unity Talks With Benny Gantz's Party

Member of Knesset Yuli Edelstein acknowledged on Monday that his new party, "Achdut" (Unity), is struggling in recent polls, admitting he is not "jumping for joy" over the results. Despite the low numbers, Edelstein stated that he and his colleagues are committed to their goal of entering the Knesset, emphasizing their desire to advance an ideology rather than merely win seats. He dismissed any thoughts of retirement, asserting his belief in the importance of their platform and the need for their party.

Edelstein indicated that the party is actively pursuing alliances with other groups sharing their ideological space, particularly mentioning potential mergers or technical blocs with Benny Gantz's "Blue and White" party. "I hope that things will mature in the coming days," Edelstein said, expressing optimism about reaching agreements. He noted that political deals often come together at the last minute, stressing the need to agree on principles even for a technical bloc.

He further clarified that "Achdut" is open to uniting with parties positioned between the major political blocs, but with the condition that such partners would not later join a government led by either extreme. Edelstein concluded by stating that a narrow government would be dependent on extremists, and his party is working towards a specific objective, implying a desire for a broader, more centrist coalition.