Gantz Said to Be Exploring New Center-Right Political Alliance

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz is in advanced talks with former Fire and Rescue chief Dadi Shchimi about forming a new party and running together in the next election, Channel 12 reported Tuesday, according to political correspondent Dafna Liel. The proposed list is being built as a centrist, center-right alternative aimed at voters from the “soft right” and the political center.

The report said retired communications minister and Yoez Hendel, head of the Reservists Party, is expected to play a major role in the new leadership. Hendel has also been in contact with other figures from across the coalition, including MK Moshe Solomon of Religious Zionism and MK Dan Illouz of Likud, both of whom strongly opposed the draft exemption bill.

Blue and White did not deny that the discussions are taking place. In a formal response, the party said Gantz is speaking with many political leaders who share the idea of ending boycotts and the bloc war, with the aim of forming after the election a broad Zionist government without extremists.

The party added that Shchimi, Moshe Kahlon, Yoez Hendel, Aliza Bloch, Yuli Edelstein, Yaniv Zelekha, the Al Hadegel movement, reservists’ groups, and mayors from the north and south are among those Gantz is talking to about building “the bloc of the people of Israel.” The statement said the public will be the first to know when there is concrete news. In recent interviews, Gantz has also spoken about ultra-Orthodox enlistment and police violence at protests, warning of growing hatred toward Haredim and saying he will not give up sanctions against draft dodgers.