Benny Gantz Negotiates Blue and White Merger with Ayelet Shaked as No. 2

Benny Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White party, is engaged in advanced talks to unite with former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. Under the emerging agreement, Shaked is expected to take the second spot on the joint list, accompanied by prominent figures from the religious Zionist sector and the general public. Shaked aims to include key personalities such as Rabbi David Stav, a former candidate for Chief Rabbi, Samaria Deputy Council Head Davidi Ben Zion, and Shavot Ra'anan in the list to provide a value-based safety net.

Gantz has set a crucial condition that all of Shaked's affiliates must commit to not supporting a narrow government led by either political side. Previously, Shaked held exploratory talks with other political figures, including Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein, but those discussions did not result in an agreement. Shavot Ra'anan was also mentioned in those talks but ultimately did not join their list.

If the negotiations finalize, Shaked will assume the number two position, which puts the current No. 2, Dedi Simchi, in doubt. Simchi recently joined Gantz's list but is reportedly considering his future options, including potentially leaving the alliance if offered a reserved spot on the Likud list.