Benny Gantz's reaction to the launch of Gilad Erdan's new party

Less than an hour after Israel's Ambassador to the UN and former minister Gilad Erdan announced the establishment of a new right-wing party, National Unity chairman Benny Gantz published a post that sparked interest in the political system. Gantz wrote: "Yuli, Gilad — good luck! I welcome you back to the arena and to joining the idea of the people of Israel's bloc and the establishment of a broad Zionist unity government."

Gantz's greeting stands out particularly against the backdrop of the central message Erdan presented at the party's launch. Throughout his speech, he emphasized that his goal is to break the pattern of "narrow governments" and lead to the establishment of a "broad Zionist government," which will be composed of Zionist parties only.

"I will fight for the establishment of a broad Zionist government. And I will not sit in any narrow government. No narrow government!", he declared.

Erdan, who left the Likud after more than three decades, clarified that he is not changing his political worldview. "All my life I have been a right-wing man. I have never zigzagged. I believe in the Land of Israel, in settlement and in governance, and I strongly oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state," he said. Along with this, he added that the right must return to the values of responsibility, statehood, and mutual respect. Former Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein joined Erdan, and the two presented a platform focusing, among other things, on a new Basic Law that will mandate military or national service for all Israeli citizens. Erdan clarified that his party will appeal to right-wingers who seek to preserve the values of the national camp, but also to promote equality in the burden and a broad Zionist unity government.

Gantz's post, which referred directly to the same idea that Erdan presented, may spark assessments regarding the possibility of political cooperation in the future, although at this stage no further comment was provided by either side beyond the public greeting.