Benny Gantz Announces Exit from Upcoming Election Race
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Benny Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White party, announced he will not compete in the upcoming elections, citing poor poll results and pressure. He stated his commitment to continuing the fight for national unity. Gantz, a former IDF Chief of Staff and Defense Minister, had a long military career before entering politics eight years ago. His political path included leading the Blue and White alliance and serving in various government roles, most recently in the war cabinet before his departure.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Benny Gantz announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Knesset elections.
- The decision follows poor polling numbers for the Blue and White party.
- Gantz cited a commitment to unity as his reason for continuing to fight for Israel.
- He previously served as IDF Chief of Staff and Minister of Defense.
- Gantz entered politics eight years ago and led the Blue and White alliance.
- He recently departed from the war cabinet in June 2024.
Benny Gantz, the chairman of the Blue and White party, has announced he will not be running in the upcoming elections. The decision comes just a week before the 26th Knesset elections and follows a series of polls indicating his party was far from the electoral threshold. Gantz stated he will continue to strive for unity, which he believes is the only solution to prevent further disaster and safeguard Israel.
Gantz, a former Minister of Defense, IDF Chief of Staff, and Alternate Prime Minister, had previously insisted he would remain in the political race. However, mounting pressure and poor poll numbers appear to have led to his withdrawal. His political career, which began approximately eight years ago, is now concluding, marking the end of his bid to lead the country.
The article details Gantz's extensive military career, beginning with his enlistment in the Paratroopers Brigade in 1977. He held numerous command positions, including leading the Shaldag special forces unit and commanding the Northern Corps. He served as IDF Chief of Staff from 2011 to 2015, overseeing operations such as "Pillar of Defense" and "Protective Edge" in Gaza.
After retiring from the military, Gantz entered politics, founding the "Hosen LeYisrael" party. He later merged with Yesh Atid to form the Blue and White alliance, which achieved significant electoral success, even receiving the mandate to form a government at one point. His political journey included serving as Minister of Defense and Alternate Prime Minister in a rotation government with Benjamin Netanyahu, a government that ultimately dissolved.
More recently, Gantz joined a national emergency government following the October 7th attacks, serving as a minister without portfolio and a member of the war cabinet. However, disagreements led to his and Gadi Eisenkot's departure from the government in June 2024. Gantz's campaign for the upcoming elections focused on breaking political blocs and forming a unity government.
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