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Benny Gantz’s withdrawal of his Blue and White Party from Israel’s election has prompted warnings from right-wing leaders that smaller parties could split the vote, helping the left into power – though the move has been welcomed by other leaders as “responsible”.
Gantz announced his decision yesterday, just eight days before Israelis head to the polls, in a move welcomed by opposition figures seeking to consolidate support against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar Party, and a former colleague of Gantz in the military, praised the decision as “correct and responsible”, describing the election as among the most consequential in Israel’s history.
Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats, also welcomed the withdrawal, saying opposition parties had a shared responsibility to secure victory for the change bloc.
But foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar urged smaller right-wing parties polling near or below the electoral threshold to follow Gantz’s example, warning that votes for parties failing to enter the Knesset could ultimately benefit the left.
Sa’ar pointed to the 1992 election, when votes lost by three small right-wing parties helped the left-wing bloc secure a parliamentary majority before the Oslo Accords were signed.
Religious Zionist Party leader and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed the warning, accusing smaller factions of irresponsibly splitting the right-wing vote and risking a government dependent on Arab parties.
Ofer Winter’s right-wing People of Israel party rejected calls to withdraw from the election, arguing that Gantz’s departure made its own candidacy more important.
Israelis will elect 120 Knesset members on October 27.
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