Gantz Vows to Stay in Race, Pledges to Force Broad Israeli Unity Government
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz rejected calls to withdraw from the upcoming elections, vowing to serve as a national arbiter to form a broad unity government.
Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party and former IDF Chief of Staff, stated in an interview that he has no intention of withdrawing from the upcoming Knesset elections, despite lagging in public opinion polls. Speaking on Radio North 104.5FM, Gantz emphasized that his primary political mission is to act as a national arbiter and force the formation of a broad, cross-bloc Zionist unity government after the vote.
Addressing calls for his withdrawal, Gantz defended his democratic right to present his platform to the public. "Whoever calls on me to withdraw should check their own democratic credentials," Gantz said. "If I need to sell an idea, I will do everything to present and promote it. The public is wise and knows exactly who it is voting for. I do not think the election results will be close to the polls." He warned that if Blue and White fails to maintain a strong presence in the political center, the country risks hurtling toward yet another political stalemate.
The Role of National Arbiter
Gantz made it clear that he will not automatically complete a 61-seat coalition for either major political bloc. Instead, he intends to serve as a bridge builder. "I am not completing 61 for anyone. I will demand that they enter a room—I will be the national arbiter," he stated. Gantz argued that Israel's survival depends on moving away from sectoral politics and establishing a government that unites the center while excluding extremists.
Commenting on the rise of Gadi Eisenkot in the polls, Gantz downplayed the significance of momentary trends, noting that past attempts to rely solely on new political factions failed to produce stable governance. Despite concerns over passing the electoral threshold, Gantz reiterated his lifelong commitment to serving the state, stating that he refuses to give up on Israel's political future.
Criticism of Government and Military Strategy
Turning to national security, Gantz delivered sharp criticism of the current government's handling of the war and budgetary allocations. He claimed that the prioritization of narrow sectoral interests over strategic national decisions has harmed state readiness.
"This is what happens when you do not manage responsible decisions comprehensively, but instead chase sectors, leaving the big stones outside—in this case, 12 combat helicopters that did not arrive on time," Gantz said.
While praising the operational achievements of the IDF on all fronts since October 7, Gantz blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for failing to translate military success into diplomatic achievements. He asserted that the military has performed exceptionally well under horrific initial circumstances, but the political echelon has failed to secure a long-term political horizon.
Finally, Gantz addressed controversies surrounding military tactics and the use of artificial intelligence in combat operations, condemning irresponsible portrayals of the army's conduct. He stressed that Israel makes every effort to minimize civilian casualties, noting that while AI systems assist in processing vast amounts of intelligence, every single military target ultimately requires a deliberate, orderly commander's decision.
