Gantz Withdraws Knesset Candidacy, Cites Failure to Unite Nation
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Benny Gantz, chairman of Blue and White, announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Knesset elections, accepting responsibility for failing to garner sufficient public support for his political vision. He urged political leaders to unite and avoid further division, warning of potential disaster. Gantz reaffirmed his commitment to a Zionist unity government and his decision to join the emergency government after the October 7th attack. The move comes amid low poll numbers for his party, which has remained below the electoral threshold.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Benny Gantz withdrew his candidacy for the 26th Knesset, accepting responsibility for insufficient public support.
- Gantz urged political leaders to unite, warning against further division and potential disaster.
- He reaffirmed his commitment to a Zionist unity government and his decision to join the emergency government.
- The withdrawal occurred eight days before elections, with his party struggling in polls.
- Gantz cited the need to prevent soldiers' votes from being wasted on a list below the threshold.
Benny Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White party and former IDF Chief of Staff and Defense Minister, announced Monday evening that he is withdrawing his candidacy for the 26th Knesset. Speaking at a press conference at Kibbutz Kfar Hamaccabiah, Gantz stated that he failed to convince a broad enough segment of the public to support his political path and accepted responsibility for this outcome. He emphasized, however, that he would not abandon his vision for a Zionist unity government that transcends blocs.
Despite his withdrawal from the race, Gantz reiterated his belief in his political approach, which he described as one of statemanship and unity that prioritizes Israel. He expressed gratitude to those who share this vision and continue to fight for it. Gantz warned political leaders across the spectrum against returning the country to a state of division, likening it to "October the sixth," and cautioned that a failure to achieve real change could lead to further societal rifts, new elections, or even disaster.
Gantz reflected on his decision to join the emergency government following the October 7th Hamas attack, calling it the most important choice of his public life and stating he would make the same decision again without hesitation. He explained that he entered the government despite the potential political cost, driven by a sense of national duty during a time of existential threat to Israel.
He criticized the current political system for prioritizing partisan interests over the nation's well-being. Gantz pledged to continue working to bridge divides within Israeli society, even outside the political arena, framing his life's mission as connecting the different parts of the nation and helping build a shared future.
The decision comes eight days before the elections, after previous declarations of intent to run until the end. Blue and White has struggled to gain traction in polls, remaining below the electoral threshold. A contributing factor to the timing of the announcement was the impending start of voting for IDF soldiers, with the party aiming to prevent soldiers' votes from being cast for a list that would not pass the threshold.
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