🗳️ ELECTION RACE: ERDAN WITHDRAWS AS PRESSURE BUILDS BEFORE LIST DEADLINE: Gadi Eisenkot said at a Friday cultural event in Rishon LeZion: “We’re preparing surprises right up until the candidate lists close.”
An Israel Hayom poll gave the Netanyahu bloc, including Ofer Winter, 53 seats, while the Eisenkot bloc fell to 55. The Smotrich-Feiglin alliance received 6 seats and Winter 4.
Pressure on Winter to merge continues. Bezalel Smotrich published a poll showing that 90% of Amcha Yisrael voters support a merger and said: “I invite Ofer to a meeting as early as this evening.”
Gilad Erdan announced that his Unity Party will not run in the upcoming election, saying:
“Throughout my life, I have served the people of Israel and the State of Israel. It was out of this sense of mission that, several weeks ago, I founded the ‘Unity’ Party.
I believe Israel needs a broad Zionist government capable of passing a genuine military conscription law and resolving disputes. I believed that the horrific massacre of October 7, and the terrible price paid by Israel’s citizens, require us to change course.
Unfortunately, after about a month of campaigning, the reality is clear. In the upcoming elections, a large majority of the public is seeking, above all, a clear decision on who will serve as prime minister. The need for a broad unity government does not rank high among voters’ priorities.
Despite the extensive efforts we have made, support thus far for the ‘Unity’ Party does not provide a high likelihood of crossing the electoral threshold. Efforts to join forces with other parties in the unity bloc have also failed to materialize.
I have therefore decided that the ‘Unity’ Party will not run in the upcoming elections.
Leadership also means recognizing reality as it is and acting responsibly. I believe we must ensure that our voters’ ballots influence the outcome of the election rather than go to waste.
I thank everyone who believed in the path of unity, volunteered, supported, and helped. I especially thank my colleagues in the party leadership, Yuli Edelstein, Aliza Bloch, Oren Smadja, and Hezi Nehama, for their partnership, their work, and their belief in our path.
It was an honor to lead this wonderful group of exceptional people who believe in the idea and importance of unity, and who will continue to fight for it wherever they may be.
Today, I am withdrawing the ‘Unity’ Party’s candidacy, but not my commitment to public service or my path as a public servant.
I will continue to do everything I can for the people, for the soldiers of the IDF, and for a better future in Israel.”
Yuli Edelstein and Aliza Bloch are also retiring with him. Eisenkot subsequently called on additional parties polling below the electoral threshold to withdraw.
Blue and White responded to Eisenkot: “The most responsible thing to do after three years of war, after years of political crisis, and on the brink of a civil war, is to establish a broad-based Zionist government that crosses political blocs, and to prevent the formation of a government that would rely on the votes of Arab or ultra-Orthodox parties.”
With 72 hours remaining until candidate lists close, there is still no progress between Eisenkot and Bennett. Both continue separate talks with Tropper.
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