Ardan: "Eisenkot is pretending to be right-wing, we will not sit in a government dependent on Yair Golan"
The chairman of the "Achdut" party and former senior Likud member explains in an interview with "HaYom" why he left the party after 30 years to take a major political risk. He stated: "We will demand a service law for everyone, including Arabs and Haredim. We will not be in anyone's pocket, even if the price is new elections."
While his colleagues in the Likud were fighting for spots on the party list, Gilad Ardan — a former member of the security-political cabinet and current chairman of the "Achdut" party — harshly criticized the emerging government composition.
In an interview with "HaYom", Ardan laid out the reasons for establishing a party based on "unity". "The Prime Minister demanded a record number of reserved spots to hide the fact that the Betar spirit is no longer as strong in the Likud," he noted. This decision was surprising for a politician who was considered a top contender for Likud leadership after Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Influence belongs only to Deri, Goldknopf, and perhaps Ben Gvir"
"After October 7, I understood that the most important thing is to fight for a unity government capable of making decisions on central issues," Ardan said. "I could have returned to the Likud and waited for my turn, but the country is in a difficult state, and hundreds of thousands of reservist families are bearing a burden that is tearing us apart from within."
Ardan added: "Inside the Likud, everyone knows it is impossible to influence critical issues. Who has influence? Aryeh Deri, Yitzhak Goldknopf, and perhaps Itamar Ben Gvir. It is the same on the other side: voting for Gadi Eisenkot or Naftali Bennett means getting Yair Golan or Mahmoud Abbas controlling the agenda. My mission is to create a political instrument that can bridge the two blocs to solve the problems of Israeli society."
"Unity or death"
When asked why he does not aim to be the "61st vote" in a right-wing government instead of Ben Gvir or Deri, Ardan replied: "Those who doubt me do so for political interest. The public has known me for 30 years, and I will fight for my right-wing positions. I am taking a huge risk by leaving the Likud to prove that I am committed to these positions to the end."
Ardan emphasized that change is a last resort: "It is unity or death. We will not join a narrow government, even if the price is another round of elections. We demand a broad Zionist government." According to him, the priority is mandatory service for all citizens, including Arabs and Haredim.
"I do not see Haredim or Yair Golan in such a government, as a significant part of his base consists of Arab voters. These two sides cannot coexist in one government," Ardan concluded.
