Kachol-Lavan Party Withdraws From Elections; Ballots to Be Invalidated

The "Kachol-Lavan" party, led by Benny Gantz, has officially withdrawn from the upcoming elections. Consequently, their ballots will not be available at polling stations, and any votes cast for the party will be deemed invalid. The Central Elections Committee confirmed the decision after all party candidates formally withdrew their candidacies. The committee has instructed that "Kachol-Lavan" ballots be removed from voting booths and marked with a cross on election posters listing participants. This includes votes cast by IDF soldiers, who began voting on Tuesday, and Israeli diplomats abroad, who have already cast their ballots. The committee clarified that votes already submitted for "Kachol-Lavan" at military polling stations and diplomatic missions will also be invalidated.

Earlier reports indicated Gantz's decision to withdraw. His departure is not expected to significantly alter the electoral landscape, as the party was reportedly lagging behind the electoral threshold. The withdrawal is estimated to affect only a few thousand votes, rather than leading to a substantial redistribution of Knesset seats. The article also notes recent tensions within the opposition, with Avigdor Lieberman criticizing Gadi Eisenkot for allegedly following Gantz's path. Gantz, in turn, defended Eisenkot against Lieberman's remarks.