Gantz Quits Election Race; Assayag Says 'It's a Game for Adults'

By מערכת ice

Translated & summarized from Ice by baba

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Benny Gantz, chairman of the "Blue and White" party, announced he will not run in the upcoming elections, citing low poll numbers. Media personality Ofira Assayag thanked him for withdrawing, calling it a "game for adults" and a realization that votes for him would be wasted. The head of the "Yashar!" party, head of the "Yashar!" party, called Gantz's decision responsible, while Yair Golan of the Democrats party stated it was a correct move to ensure the "change bloc" wins.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Benny Gantz announced he will not run in the upcoming elections, citing low poll numbers.
Media personality Ofira Assayag thanked Gantz for withdrawing, calling it a "game for adults."
Assayag stated that votes for Gantz would have been a waste and that he realized he wouldn't pass the electoral threshold.
The head of the "Yashar!" party called Gantz's decision responsible and thanked him for his contribution to security.
Yair Golan stated Gantz's decision was correct to ensure the "change bloc" wins.
Gantz cited the need for unity to prevent disaster and keep Israel safe.

Gantz Quits Election Race; Assayag Says 'It's a Game for Adults' — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Benny Gantz, chairman of the "Blue and White" party, announced Monday evening that he will not run in the upcoming elections, citing a lack of change in recent Knesset polls.

In a dramatic decision made a week before the elections, the former defense minister stated, "I will not run in the upcoming elections, I will continue to fight for unity. This is the only solution that will prevent further disaster and keep Israel safe from all challenges, both internal and external."

Media personality Ofira Assayag responded via TikTok, thanking Gantz for realizing that even a few votes for him would be a waste. "I want to say thank you very much to Benny Gantz. Thank you very much. Thank you very much for understanding, thank you very much for internalizing, thank you very much for realizing that even if two, three, four people vote for you, it’s a waste of votes. You know what that means, Benny? That you truly want the good of the country. Because when they tried to hint to you, I personally said to you: 'Benny, Benny, withdraw!'" she said.

Assayag added, "In the end, you internalized it. It took you a little time, but in real-time you proved that the good of the country is truly before you. When you realized that's it, you're not passing the electoral threshold, that you realized only if you withdraw it will ultimately help, you played it well. The votes would have been lost. It took you time, so I wanted to say thank you very much. For everything you did for us. I'm sorry you won't be in politics, but there's nothing to be done, it's a game for adults. Thank you, Benny."

the head of the "Yashar!" party, head of the "Yashar!" party, responded to Gantz's withdrawal, saying, "I thank my friend, Lt. Gen. (Res.) Benny Gantz, for his correct and responsible decision to withdraw from competing in the fateful elections since the establishment of the state. I am grateful for his long-standing contribution to Israel's security and am sure he will continue to contribute to Israeli society going forward."

Yair Golan, head of the Democrats party, wrote, "Gantz made a responsible and correct decision. At a fateful hour for Israel's future, the shared responsibility is to ensure the victory of the change bloc. The Democrats are committed to real change and repair, and to a Jewish, democratic, liberal, strong, and secure Israel. This is the path we will lead in the next government as well."