Israeli politicians on both sides of the political spectrum reacted to the news that Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz had withdrawn from the elections on Monday, just eight days before voting.
Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, a former member of Gantz's party who also served as IDF deputy chief of staff under him, thanked Gantz for what he called the "correct and responsible decision to withdraw from the most consequential elections since the establishment of the State of Israel."
"I thank him for his many years of service to Israel's security and am confident that he will continue to contribute to Israeli society in the future," he stated.
Democrats head Yair Golan, who succeeded Eisenkot as Gantz's deputy chief of staff, also praised Blue and White's departure from the race, saying the bloc had a "shared responsibility to ensure the victory of the change bloc."
"The Democrats are committed to change and genuine reform, and to a Jewish, democratic, liberal, strong, and secure Israel. This is the path we will pursue in the next government as well."
Additionally, Yoaz Hendel, chairman of the Reservists and Economic Party and former Blue and White member, thanked Gantz for his service to the country while calling on his voters to instead turn to his party.
"I call on voters from the third bloc to join us. Now, more than ever, it is clear that the only way to establish a Zionist government is to vote for the Reservists and Economic Party."
B'Yachad's Yair Lapid "congratulated" Gantz's decision, calling the move "responsible and the right thing today."
'And we got Oslo': Sa'ar implores right-wing parties below electoral threshold to withdraw from race like Gantz
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar seized on Gantz's withdrawal from the election to urge smaller right-wing parties polling below or near the electoral threshold to follow his example.
"Right-wing parties that are running and are below the electoral threshold or close to it, should do what Benny Gantz did just an hour ago: withdraw from the race," Sa'ar said.
Sa'ar warned that votes cast for right-wing parties that fail to cross the electoral threshold could be wasted and ultimately benefit the left-wing bloc. He drew a parallel to the 1992 elections, which preceded the signing of the Oslo Accords.
"The cost of wasting right-wing votes in these elections could be catastrophic," Sa'ar said. "In the 1992 elections, due to the loss of votes from three small right-wing parties, the left-wing camp reached 61 seats, and we got the Oslo Accords."
Sa'ar urged smaller parties to "Show responsibility for the people of Israel and for the land of Israel!"
Smotrich 'sounds the alarm' for right-wing bloc as Gantz withdraws, left consolidates
Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party chairman Bezalel Smotrich echoed Sa'ar's warning, calling on smaller right-wing parties to act responsibly and avoid splitting the vote.
"Now, after the split, the left is organized to perfection in a way that ensures not a single vote there will be lost," Smotrich said, referring to Gantz's withdrawal.
"In contrast, on the right this time, there is complete irresponsibility on the part of Ofer Winter and the other party fragments that are nowhere near the electoral threshold, who insist on throwing votes in the trash and risking the State of Israel with a left-wing government backed by terror supporters that will bring disaster upon us," Smotrich said.
Smotrich described the situation as a "true alarm" and called on Winter to "snap out of it and take responsibility."
He also urged right-wing voters not to support parties that could fail to cross the electoral threshold, warning that if right-wing votes were wasted, "the left will come to power."
"We don't gamble with the State of Israel!" Smotrich concluded.
Despite the appeals from Sa'ar and Smotrich, Winter's People of Israel party issued a statement following Gantz's withdrawal, reaffirming its place in the race and presenting itself as a political home for right-wing voters.
"We thank Benny Gantz for his decades of service to the State of Israel," the statement said. "Benny Gantz's withdrawal highlights the importance of the People Israel party in Israeli public life."
"Now it is clear: Anyone who wants a right-wing party that serves and delivers decisive results, and is not dependent on Goldknopf's 61st vote, has only one political home, People Israel," the statement concluded.
United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher also responded to Gantz's withdrawal, praising him for his decades of service to Israel and describing him as a "mensch" who had contributed greatly to the country's security.
"I wish him great success and am confident that he will return to contribute his abilities and talents to the leadership of the country in the future," Asher said.
Asher also emphasized the personal relationship and mutual respect the two had maintained despite their political differences.
"Despite our differences of opinion, we have always known how to maintain a personal relationship, respectful dialogue, and mutual appreciation. Benny is living proof that friendship and gratitude do not depend on political bloc divisions."
Efrat Rayten, fourth on the left-wing Democrats party list, thanked Gantz for making what she described as the "right and responsible decision" and for his years of service to Israel.
She called for unity among parties across the political spectrum that had not been part of the current coalition, which she accused of promoting draft evasion, corruption, and Kahanism.
Rayten also expressed optimism about the upcoming elections, declaring, "Feeling the change in the air? It's really happening!" and urging Israelis to turn out in large numbers to vote.