“I will not run.” Benny Gantz withdraws from the upcoming Israeli elections

Tel Aviv - Ofoq News - The head of the Israeli Blue and White Party, Benny Gantz, announced his withdrawal from running in the upcoming elections, one week after he confirmed that he would continue competing “until the end,” in a decision that came about a week before the elections.

Gantz said, ahead of a press conference scheduled for Monday evening, that he will continue the struggle for unity, adding: “This is the only solution that will prevent another catastrophe and preserve Israel in the face of all internal and external challenges.”

Gantz is scheduled to make a statement to the media at eight o'clock in the evening, in which he will talk about his decision and answer journalists' questions.

Hesitation and pressure within the party

Israeli media reported that Gantz hesitated for a long time before making the decision to withdraw, while his professional team pushed him to continue the competition, and presented him with polls that showed that his message might have a chance if he continued in the race until the end. But polls published by the main Israeli media repeatedly showed that his party did not exceed the electoral threshold.

The Blue and White party witnessed disagreement over continuing to run in the elections until the end, even if this harmed the Change Camp. Knesset member Alon Schuster was one of the most prominent opponents of this option, as he said in closed conversations: “We should not burn votes in vain.”

A very close relative of Gantz said that the decision was made today because the soldiers will start casting their votes tomorrow, adding that Gantz did not want to waste the votes of the soldiers who intended to vote for him. He added: "In the end, he made the decision that had to be taken, after he realized that there was no point in running in the elections at this stage."

The report suggested that Noam Hendel's party would benefit from Gantz's withdrawal, due to the overlap between the electoral base of the two parties, especially voters who do not consider themselves part of either political camp.

About half an hour before Gantz's withdrawal was announced, the Blue and White party announced that its representatives who were appointed at the polling stations would continue to perform their duties to ensure the integrity of the elections, provided that they would receive their wages from the party.

Eisenkot's praise and criticism from the right

The head of the Yashar Party, Gadi Eisenkot, welcomed Gantz's decision, and said: "I thank my friend, former Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, for his correct and responsible decision to withdraw from competing in elections that have been considered crucial since the establishment of the state. I thank him for his long contribution to Israel's security, and I am confident that he will continue to contribute to Israeli society in the future."

The report indicated that Gantz made the decision to withdraw without holding a conversation with Eisenkot, who was his former political partner.

For his part, the head of the Democratic Party, Yair Golan, said that Gantz made a responsible and correct decision, adding: “At a fateful moment for Israel’s future, the shared responsibility is to ensure the victory of the Change camp.” He stressed that his party is committed to real change and reform, and to establishing a Jewish, democratic, liberal, strong and secure Israel, saying that this is the path they will lead in the next government as well.

The head of the "Religious Zionism" party, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, took advantage of Gantz's withdrawal to criticize Ofer Winter's party, in light of the controversy over right-wing parties that are not close to the electoral threshold.

Smotrich wrote on the “X” platform that, after Gantz’s withdrawal, the left became organized in a way that ensures that no vote is lost, while he accused Venter and the other small parties on the right of “absolute irresponsibility,” and said that they insist on wasting votes and exposing Israel to danger through the possibility of a left-wing government that includes supporters of terrorism coming to power.

Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karai, from the Likud Party, also attacked Venter, saying that Gantz showed responsibility towards his allies on the left so that they do not lose any vote, and called on the right to take a similar position. He added: "If Venter withdraws, I will bow to him in respect."

Gantz's statements a week ago

Gantz had confirmed a week ago, during the “People of the State” conference organized by Israeli media, that he would run in the elections until the end, saying: “No matter what happens, I will enter the competition because there is a need to save the state. I will continue until the end.”

He added at the time that Israel faces the greatest challenges, and that they cannot be solved through a narrow government. He touched on his previous participation in governments headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, saying: “The two times I joined Netanyahu, it was despite his presence, not because of him. Politicians are in politics for the sake of the chair and their personal interests, but as for me, the state matters to me.”

In recent weeks, parties in the change camp have accused Gantz of pushing him to run in the elections for revenge and political motives. The report quoted one of these parties as saying that Gantz may want to “commit political suicide” to thwart the possibility of replacing Netanyahu.

A prominent official in the Biyahad party was also quoted as saying that Gantz, if asked about the government he prefers headed by Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, or Avigdor Lieberman, would answer that he prefers a government headed by Netanyahu.

After announcing his withdrawal, Gantz will not run in the upcoming Israeli elections, despite his previous assurances that he will continue competing until the end.