Change Bloc Pressures Benny Gantz to Withdraw Amid Dismal Polls
Senior figures in the Israeli change bloc are mounting intense pressure on Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to withdraw from the election race over poor polling numbers. Critics accuse him of wasting public funds, while Gantz insists he will remain in the contest to pursue a broad unity government.
Senior figures within the "change bloc" have decided to launch a concerted effort to pressure Blue and White chair MK Benny Gantz to withdraw from the race and exit the political arena, arguing that he is the main obstacle to the bloc securing victory in the upcoming elections. Yashar! party leader Gadi Eisenkot made it clear that the change bloc consists of only four parties—Yashar!, BeYachad, Yisrael Beytenu, and The Democrats—and warned that any vote for another party is effectively a vote for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Pressure Mounts Amid Poor Polling
The push comes as Gantz has repeatedly refused to commit to securing a 61-seat majority for his former senior partner Eisenkot or for any other candidate for prime minister. Following dismal poll numbers that consistently show Blue and White failing to cross the electoral threshold, change bloc leaders have resolved to apply massive pressure to force his exit.
A senior official within the change camp accused Gantz of acting out of personal motives, stating: "Gantz is driven by personal frustration over his political standing. As far as he is concerned, there is no problem with Netanyahu continuing to serve as the next prime minister." Meanwhile, a source close to Gantz strongly rejected the claims, insisting that his message of a broad unity government and consensus is the only path to establishing a wide Zionist coalition. "Nothing will help—Gantz is running all the way," the source asserted.
Accusations of Public Funds Waste
MK Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beytenu) leveled sharp criticism at Gantz, claiming his continued campaign is not only pathetic but also fiscally irresponsible.
«Gantz's run is not only pathetic, but it also wastes the money of Israeli citizens. Anyone who looks at the polls knows there is zero chance Blue and White will cross the threshold, yet Benny Gantz is going to waste 15 million shekels of public party funding on advertising and PR, knowing full well he has no chance.»
Malinovsky hinted at the misuse of party financing funds, describing the situation as a public form of money laundering, even if not criminal. Responding to the remarks, Blue and White MK Pnina Tamano-Shata defended her party leader: "The anti-democratic mind-engineering attempt by the change camp against Gantz continues. Whoever does not fall in line faces political execution. The ongoing ambush against Benny and Blue and White is yet another heavy-handed attempt by opposition rivals to silence the sane voice calling for unity and a broad Zionist government."
Internal Dissension and Ultimandums
In recent weeks, internal tensions have flared as Blue and White figures warned that Gantz is leading the party to ruin. MK Yael Ron Ben Moshe, who announced her resignation from the party two weeks ago, accused Gantz of inflicting severe damage on the political camp. Sources within the party indicated that remaining lawmakers are considering issuing an ultimatum to Gantz, threatening to abandon the campaign if polling figures confirm the party cannot clear the electoral threshold.
