Former Fire Commissioner Dedi Simchi Says Blue and White Will Withdraw If It Fails to Pass Threshold

Dedi Simchi, former Fire and Rescue Commissioner and bereaved father, who is second on Benny Gantz's Blue and White party list, stated on Channel 12 that the party will withdraw from the election race if it becomes clear they will not pass the electoral threshold. "If it looks like we won't pass the threshold, we will withdraw. We will not allow voters to waste their votes. Gantz thinks the same," Simchi said on Thursday evening.

This statement comes amid Blue and White's poor performance in recent polls. In the latest weekly poll by Zman Israel, conducted by political consultant Yossi Tatika in cooperation with Adgenda panel led by Roy Shindler, Gantz's party received only 2%, remaining below the electoral threshold. The poll also showed a dispersal of about 6% of votes among three right-center parties failing to pass the threshold: Yoaz Hendel and Hili Tropper's "Zionist Home" party at 3%, Blue and White at 2%, and the new "Unity" party of Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein at just 1%.

Simchi's remarks follow a report from Kan News on Sunday indicating he was considering leaving Gantz's list for a reserved spot in Likud, should such an offer arise. The main reason for this consideration was Blue and White's inability to gain traction in the polls and the lack of political alliances with other parties. Simchi now clarifies that if the situation does not improve and the list fails to cross the threshold, they will not remain in the race. He emphasized that Gantz shares the view that voters' ballots should not be wasted.