Gilad Erdan Withdraws Unity Party from Upcoming Election

Minister of Public Diplomacy Gilad Erdan announced on Friday that his newly formed party, 'Ha'Achdut' (The Unity), will not participate in the upcoming elections. Erdan stated that the decision came after a month-long campaign, following a lack of significant public support and unsuccessful attempts to merge with other parties.

Erdan explained that his initial goal was to establish a broad Zionist government capable of passing a genuine conscription law and resolving national disputes. However, he concluded that the public's priorities differ from his party's platform. "The reality shows that in the upcoming elections, a large majority of the public seeks, first and foremost, a clear decision on the identity of the prime minister, and the need for a broad unity government is not high on the citizens' agenda," he said.

The minister also cited the party's low polling numbers, indicating it was unlikely to pass the electoral threshold. "Despite many efforts we made, the support so far for the 'Ha'Achdut' party I founded does not offer a high probability of passing the electoral threshold, and possibilities for joining forces with other parties in the unity bloc are also not materializing," Erdan noted.

He added that the withdrawal aims to prevent the party's votes from being wasted and not impacting the election results. Erdan thanked his partners, including Yuli Edelstein, Aliza Bloch, Oren Smadja, and Chazi Nachama, as well as activists and supporters. Erdan emphasized that this withdrawal does not signify the end of his public service, stating, "I am removing the candidacy of the 'Ha'Achdut' party today, but not my public commitment and my path as a public servant. I will continue to act in every way I can for the people, for the IDF soldiers, and for a better future in Israel."