Benny Gantz Exits Israeli Election Race, Citing Unity Amidst Political Realignment

Benny Gantz, a prominent figure in Israeli politics and former army chief, has announced his withdrawal from the upcoming election race. The leader of the Blue and White (Kahol Lavan) party revealed on Monday that he will not be participating in the October 27 polls, stating his intention to "continue to work for unity." This decision comes as opinion polls consistently showed his party falling below the 3.25 percent threshold required to enter the 120-seat Knesset, Israel's parliament.

Gantz, 67, is expected to hold a news conference later today. He previously served in a national unity government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from 2020 to 2021 and was part of Netanyahu's war cabinet established after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks. Gantz departed the emergency cabinet in early June 2024, expressing frustration that Netanyahu was "preventing us from advancing toward true victory."

Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh, reporting from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, described Gantz's withdrawal as "not really expected" but consistent with his political trajectory since entering politics in 2018. Odeh noted that Gantz has a history of entering unity governments with leaders he previously opposed, particularly Netanyahu.

Odeh further commented that Gantz's call for unity appears limited, as it pertains to a "unity government of Zionist parties," excluding Palestinian Israeli and non-Zionist parties, even if it means including Netanyahu again. This stance positions Gantz's message of unity as narrow within the broader political landscape.

The election features a tight race between Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud party and its far-right coalition against a self-styled Zionist opposition alliance. However, neither bloc is projected to secure a parliamentary majority. Two Arab-led electoral lists, representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, are expected to win 13 seats and could play a crucial role in coalition formation, though both main blocs have ruled out alliances with them.

Opposition leaders, including Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, have welcomed Gantz's decision as "correct" and "responsible." However, Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli ambassador, told Al Jazeera that Gantz's exit is electorally "irrelevant and inconsequential," suggesting that Gantz had diminished his influence by remaining in the Netanyahu government for an extended period.