Gantz Quits Politics; New Poll Shows Where His Voters Will Go

Benny Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White party, announced his withdrawal from the political arena after approximately seven and a half years, ending his bid for the 26th Knesset. The decision followed consistent polling indicating his party would not pass the electoral threshold, alongside a wave of senior resignations and political pressure to withdraw his candidacy.

A News 14 poll surveyed the potential destinations for Gantz's voters. The results suggest that 38% would move to the "Yashar" party, 12% to Likud, and 11% to the "Beitech" party. Another 8% would go to the "Miluimnikim HaKalkalit" party, 5% to "Amcha Israel," and 3% to "HaDemokratim."

Significantly, 23% of Gantz's former voters remain undecided about their choice for the upcoming elections, leaving a substantial portion of the electorate open to persuasion. The "Yashar" party is poised to be the primary beneficiary of Gantz's departure.

In recent months, Blue and White faced ongoing weakening, senior departures, and calls from opposition figures for Gantz to withdraw. Before his announcement, Gantz intensified criticism of former allies, including Avigdor Lieberman and Gadi Eisenkot, accusing them of promoting moves to form a government reliant on Arab party support. While some viewed this as an attempt to retaliate against those pressuring him to resign, his associates denied any revenge motive.

Gantz reportedly made the decision to withdraw weeks before the official announcement, despite publicly denying any intention to leave the race. Now, he is reportedly considering a run for the presidency, a position elected by Knesset members through a secret ballot, requiring broad support across different political factions.