Benny Gantz's Post-Election Future Explored After Knesset Exit
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Benny Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White party, has announced his withdrawal from the Knesset race, signaling potential future public service or a return to the business sector. He previously chaired the cyber firm Fifth Dimension and invested in startups after leaving his role as Chief of Staff. Gantz's decision follows a pattern of former politicians transitioning to business roles, with several notable examples cited in the report.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Benny Gantz has withdrawn from the Knesset election race.
- Gantz may continue working towards a unity government post-election.
- He has not ruled out future roles in public service.
- Gantz has prior experience in the business and cyber sectors.
- He previously chaired the cyber company Fifth Dimension.
Benny Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White party, announced his decision to withdraw from the Knesset race. Sources close to him suggest he intends to continue working towards forming a unity government after the elections and has not ruled out future public service roles. His next steps are expected to be determined after the final results are in and based on the possibilities for government formation. It is also possible that Gantz may return to work in the business or non-profit sectors, areas he knows well.
The transition from politics to the business world is common, with many former lawmakers and ministers taking on roles in companies after leaving public service.
Gantz himself has prior experience in the business world. Between his departure as Chief of Staff in February 2015 and his entry into politics in December 2018, he spent three years in a cooling-off period, focusing on business, social activities, and the high-tech and cyber sectors. In 2015, he became chairman of the cyber company Fifth Dimension, which developed AI systems for intelligence data processing under CEO Doron Cohen. The company raised significant funds but later faced a closed criminal investigation in which Gantz was not involved. He also served as an independent director for Amot Investments and Elron.
Additionally, Gantz invested approximately $100,000 in the startup Power Mi Tech through his consulting firm BG Prime. Five of the company's founders later co-founded "Hosen L'Yisrael," the party Gantz led. The company's main product was Battarix, a thin, credit-card-sized backup battery for smartphones, which ceased operations in August 2019. Before entering politics, Gantz also held stakes in Get SAT, a satellite terminal manufacturer, and cybersecurity firm Deep Instinct.
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