Gantz Exits Knesset Race, Eyes Presidency

Benny Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White party, announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Knesset elections on Sunday. This decision, reportedly made weeks ago despite public denials, now signals a potential bid for the presidency, according to Channel 14's political desk head Moti Castel. The withdrawal follows a prolonged period where Blue and White consistently polled below the electoral threshold. Factors contributing to the decision included significant party departures and pressure from opposition figures concerned about vote dilution that could hinder the bloc's ability to form a government. In the days leading up to his announcement, Gantz intensified his criticism of Avigdor Lieberman and Gadi Eisenkot, accusing them of promoting a government reliant on Arab party support and warning against such a scenario. These attacks led to claims within the opposition that Gantz was seeking retribution from those who pushed for his withdrawal, with some even suggesting coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Gantz's associates denied these allegations, stating his criticism stemmed from concerns for the country's future. If Gantz decides to run for president, he will need to secure support from Knesset members across different factions, as they elect the president through a secret ballot. Gantz entered politics in late 2018, founding the Resilience for Israel party, which later merged into Blue and White. During his political career, he served as Defense Minister and Alternate Prime Minister, and joined the War Cabinet after the October 7th attack until his resignation from the government in June 2024.