Full coverage· Politics· Updated
Gantz Vows to Stay in Knesset Race, Pushing Unity Government
Blue and White party chairman Benny Gantz announced on Saturday, October 10, 2026, that he will continue his campaign for the upcoming October 27 elections, despite recent polls showing his party below the electoral threshold. Gantz rejected claims that his candidacy is a waste of votes, asserting that his party is running to promote national unity and does not align with either of Israel's main political blocs. He expressed confidence that his party can secure at least six Knesset seats, warning that political divisions are leading Israel toward unstable, narrow governments and further elections.
3 newsrooms · 1 language · since
What happened
- 01Benny Gantz announced on Saturday that he will continue his election campaign despite polls placing Blue and White below the electoral threshold.
- 02Gantz rejected claims of wasting votes, stating his party can win at least six Knesset seats by appealing to voters outside the main blocs.
- 03Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video attacking rival Ofer Winter, the leader of Amcha Yisrael, calling him Bennett 2.
- 04Netanyahu accused Winter of risking the transfer of right-wing votes to the left and urged supporters to vote for Likud instead.
- 05The Blue and White campaign is running under the slogan "Choose unity, save the country" to promote a national unity government.
- 06Netanyahu attacked Winter's family and alleged that senior figures in the Amcha Yisrael party support establishing a Palestinian state.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intensified his campaign against Ofer Winter, the leader of the Amcha Yisrael party. In a video released on Saturday, Netanyahu compared Winter to former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, calling him Bennett 2 and accusing him of potentially shifting right-wing votes to the left. Netanyahu also targeted Winter's family, referencing remarks by Winter's father, and alleged that senior figures in Winter's party support the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu urged his supporters to vote for Likud, warning them against gambling with Israel's fate. Gantz, on his part, insisted on his democratic right to run, launching a campaign under the slogan "Choose unity, save the country" to attract voters unaffiliated with the current political blocs.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Israel National News. Read Israel National News’s originalThe coverage
3 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- LeftNone
- Centre2
- Right1
- HarediNone
- ArabNone
