Gilad Erdan announces Unity Party withdrawal from upcoming elections

Gilad Erdan, chairman of the Unity Party, announced on Friday that his party will not run in the upcoming elections. Erdan stated that the decision followed a month of campaigning, during which it became clear that the party was unlikely to clear the electoral threshold and that efforts to form alliances with other parties in the unity bloc had failed. He explained that the public's current priority is primarily focused on the question of who will serve as prime minister, rather than the formation of a broad unity government. Erdan described his withdrawal as an act of responsibility, intended to ensure that the votes of his supporters are not wasted. He expressed gratitude to his colleagues in the party leadership, including Yuli Edelstein, Aliza Bloch, Oren Smadja, and Hazi Nechama. Erdan concluded by stating that while he is withdrawing the party's candidacy, he remains committed to his public career and will continue to work for the people of Israel and the IDF.