Benny Gantz Exits Knesset Race, Eyes Diplomatic Roles and Presidency
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
Benny Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White party, has withdrawn from the upcoming Knesset elections due to low poll numbers. He is reportedly considering future diplomatic roles, such as an ambassadorship or heading the National Security Council, and a potential presidential run in 2028. Gantz's political career began in 2019, reaching a high of 35 seats in an alliance and later leading a bloc that ousted Benjamin Netanyahu. The October 7th war initially saw his party surge in polls, but his political trajectory has since shifted.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Benny Gantz announced his withdrawal from the Knesset elections due to poor poll results.
- Gantz is considering future diplomatic roles, including ambassadorships or heading the National Security Council.
- A potential presidential run in 2028 is also being considered for Benny Gantz.
- Gantz's political career began in 2019, achieving 35 seats in an alliance.
- His party initially surged to 40 seats in polls after the October 7th war.
Benny Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White party, announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Knesset elections, citing poor poll numbers that project his party receiving at most one percent of the vote. Gantz's political future may involve diplomatic roles, with suggestions including ambassadorships or other international positions, and potentially heading the National Security Council (NSC).
Another possibility being considered for Gantz is a run for the presidency in the summer of 2028, when the term of the current president, Yitzhak Herzog, concludes. Gantz's departure from the electoral race follows a significant political journey that began in January 2019 when he founded the "Hosen L'Yisrael" party. In the April 2019 elections, his united list with Yair Lapid, Moshe Ya'alon, and Gabi Ashkenazi garnered 35 seats.
His political career has seen periods of both alliance and opposition, including forming a unity government with Benjamin Netanyahu in March 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis. Internal disputes within the "Blue and White" faction, particularly concerning the state budget, led to a "parking lot night" maneuver where some members voted against the coalition, contributing to the government's downfall.
Following the March 2021 elections, Gantz and the "change bloc" successfully ousted Netanyahu after 12 years, with Blue and White securing 8 seats. After the 2022 elections, Gantz returned to the opposition. The October 7th war initially boosted Gantz's party in polls to a record 40 seats, while Likud dropped to 18. However, Gantz's stance on Netanyahu's continued premiership post-war, contrasted with that of his former colleague Gadi Eisenkot, reportedly impacted his political standing.
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Left 1Centre 8Right 6Haredi 1Other 4
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
