by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Former Israeli Defense Minister and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz announced Monday that he is withdrawing his Blue and White party from Israel’s October 27 elections, marking a dramatic political downfall for a man once considered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strongest challenger.
The announcement comes just eight days before Israelis head to the polls, following months of surveys showing Gantz’s party falling well below the 3.25% electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset. Recent polls placed Blue and White at approximately 1% support.
“I will not run in the upcoming elections. I will continue fighting for unity,” Gantz declared, arguing that national unity remains essential to protecting Israel from domestic divisions and external threats.
Gantz, who once stood on the verge of becoming prime minister under a proposed power-sharing arrangement with Netanyahu, saw his political fortunes deteriorate following internal party divisions, declining public support, and the departure of prominent allies, including former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot.
Despite his opposition to Netanyahu, Gantz repeatedly advocated forming a broad national unity government rather than a narrow coalition built solely around removing the prime minister from office. His willingness to cooperate with Netanyahu further complicated his relationship with opposition leaders.
Eisenkot, now leading the Yashar party, welcomed Gantz’s withdrawal as a responsible decision. Democrats leader Yair Golan also praised the move, arguing that opposition parties must consolidate their support ahead of the closely contested election.
The withdrawal could reshape Israel’s electoral landscape by redirecting votes toward larger parties and reducing the number of ballots wasted on factions failing to enter parliament. With neither major political bloc assured a governing majority, even relatively small shifts in voter support could prove decisive.
For Gantz, the announcement represents a remarkable reversal: from Netanyahu’s principal political rival and a potential future prime minister to a political figure watching the election from the sidelines.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
