The Media Line: Gilad Erdan Withdraws Unity Party From Upcoming Election  

Gilad Erdan Withdraws Unity Party From Upcoming Election  

By The Media Line Staff 

Gilad Erdan’s Unity Party will not run in Israel’s upcoming election after its support failed to provide a strong likelihood of crossing the electoral threshold and efforts to join forces with other parties did not succeed, Erdan announced Friday.  

The decision ends the party’s election campaign after about a month.  

“Despite the many efforts we have made, the support so far for the ‘Unity’ party that I established does not provide a high probability of crossing the electoral threshold, and the possibilities of joining with other parties in the unity bloc are also not materializing,” Erdan said.  

“I have therefore decided that the ‘Unity’ party will not run in the upcoming election.”  

Erdan’s decision also followed his conclusion that the issue around which he established Unity—forming a broad Zionist government—was not a leading priority for voters.  

“The reality shows that in the upcoming elections, a large majority of the public wants, first and foremost, a clear decision on the question of the identity of the prime minister, and the need for a broad unity government is not high on the citizens’ list of priorities.”  

Erdan established Unity several weeks ago, saying Israel needed a broad Zionist government that could pass a conscription law and address political divisions.  

“Throughout my life, I have served the people of Israel and the State of Israel. Out of this sense of mission, I established the ‘Unity’ party several weeks ago, because I believe that Israel needs a broad Zionist government that can pass a real conscription law and resolve disputes,” he said.  

Erdan thanked Yuli Edelstein, Aliza Bloch, Oren Smadja and Hezi Nehama, his partners in the party leadership, as well as Unity’s activists and supporters.  

He said withdrawing Unity from the election would not end his public activities.  

“I am withdrawing the candidacy of the ‘Unity’ party today, but not my public commitment or my path as a public servant. I will continue to act in every way I can for the people, for IDF [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers and for a better future in Israel.”  

Erdan is a former senior Likud minister and Israeli diplomat who served as Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations, where he was a vocal defender of Israel. He previously held several Cabinet positions, including public security and interior minister, before leaving Likud and launching the independent Unity Party.