Gilad Erdan, chairman of the Unity Party:
“Throughout my life, I have served the people of Israel and the State of Israel. It was out of this sense of mission that, several weeks ago, I founded the ‘Unity’ Party, because I believe Israel needs a broad Zionist government capable of passing a genuine military conscription law and resolving disputes.
I believed that the horrific massacre of October 7 and the terrible price paid by Israel’s citizens require us to change course.
Unfortunately, after about a month of campaigning, the reality is that in the upcoming elections, a large majority of the public is seeking, above all, a clear decision on the question of who will serve as prime minister, while the need for a broad unity government does not rank high among voters’ priorities.
Despite the extensive efforts we have made, support thus far for the ‘Unity’ Party that I founded does not provide a high likelihood of crossing the electoral threshold, and efforts to join forces with other parties in the unity bloc have also failed to materialize.
I have therefore decided that the ‘Unity’ Party will not run in the upcoming elections.
Leadership also means recognizing reality as it is and acting responsibly. I believe we must ensure that our voters’ ballots influence the outcome of the election rather than go to waste.
I thank everyone who believed in the path of unity, volunteered, supported, and helped, and especially my colleagues in the party leadership — Yuli Edelstein, Aliza Bloch, Oren Smadja, and Hezi Nehama — for their partnership, their work, and their belief in our path. It was an honor to lead this wonderful group: exceptional people who believe in the idea and importance of unity and who will continue to fight for it wherever they may be.
Today, I am withdrawing the ‘Unity’ Party’s candidacy, but not my commitment to public service or my path as a public servant. I will continue to do everything I can for the people, for the soldiers of the IDF, and for a better future in Israel.”