Gilad Erdan quits Israel Aerospace Industries board amid party talk

Former minister Gilad Erdan announced on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, that he is stepping down from the board of Israel Aerospace Industries. He told board members he is in the middle of major personal decisions, and that these issues are now commanding most of his attention.

The resignation comes as Israel heads toward the 2026 elections and after Erdan recently hinted that he is considering a new political project. About six weeks ago, on Channel 12’s "Seven" with Karen Marciano, he said he was "examining the establishment of a unifying right-wing party."

At the time, Erdan said the proposed party would not depend on ultra-Orthodox parties or Arab votes. "I am not a centrist, I am a clear right-winger," he said. He argued that many Israelis, especially after October 7, are fed up with the current political options.

In his remarks on "Seven," Erdan said the public is tired of a right-wing government that relies on ultra-Orthodox parties and cannot advance shared burden, conscription, and core curriculum reforms, and also tired of the left, which he said has become a race over who will lead the bloc and who will boycott meetings with the other side. He added that, in his view, such a left-wing government would be dependent on Arab votes.