Benny Gantz, former defense minister and opposition leader, announced Sunday he’s pulling out of the race for Israel’s next Knesset.
“The only solution that will prevent another disaster is unity,” Gantz said in a statement. “I’m withdrawing my candidacy and calling on all center-left parties to unite behind a single candidate who can win.”
Gantz, who leads the National Unity party, didn’t endorse a specific successor. But his withdrawal reshapes the opposition landscape ahead of elections expected later this year.
The move comes as polls show Israel’s political center fragmented across multiple parties—none strong enough alone to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud.
Gantz served as defense minister in Netanyahu’s emergency government formed after the October 7 attacks, but resigned in June over disagreements about the war’s conduct.
“We’re facing existential challenges,” Gantz said. “Personal ambition can’t come before the nation’s future.”
His announcement immediately triggered speculation about whether other centrist leaders—including Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid and Gideon Sa’ar of New Hope—would follow suit to create a unified opposition bloc.