Gilad Erdan Withdraws Unity Party from Upcoming Elections

Former Likud minister Gilad Erdan announced Friday that his newly formed "Unity Party" will not run in the upcoming elections. Erdan stated that he established the party several weeks ago with the belief that Israel needed a broad Zionist government capable of passing a genuine conscription law and resolving national disputes, particularly in the wake of the October 7th attacks. However, he explained that after a month of campaigning, it has become clear that the public's primary concern is a decisive outcome regarding the prime minister's identity, and a broad unity government is not a top priority for voters.

Erdan cited the party's insufficient support to likely pass the electoral threshold and the failure to form alliances with other parties in the "unity bloc" as reasons for his decision. He emphasized that leadership requires recognizing reality and acting responsibly to ensure that his supporters' votes are not wasted. He believes his supporters' voices can still influence the election results.

The Unity Party was launched about a month prior, with Erdan joined by MK Yuli Edelstein. At the time of its formation, Erdan declared he was leaving his political home of over 30 years, the Likud party, stating its representatives no longer represented its voters. He had previously indicated in private conversations that he would not include figures from the "change government" and aimed to lead the right-wing camp.