In political partnership, Gantz and Sa'ar aim for unity government

Announcing their run together in November ballot, Blue & White and New Hope parties set to appeal to anti-Netanyahu right wing voters and ultra-Orthodox parties to form broad coalition; say they can deliver country from worst crisis of democracy brought on by Netanyahu
Moran Azulai, Yuval Karni|
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Gideon Sa'ar and Benny Gantz announced on Sunday, that they will join forces in the next elections with the aim of forming a broad unity government
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  • "Israel is in the midst of its worst crisis of democracy," Blue & White leader Benny Gantz said. "The tone is set by the extremes as [former prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu drags his Likud party to hurt the principles of democracy and Israel deserves better."
    2 View gallery
    בני גנץ וגדעון סער במסיבת עיתונאים
    בני גנץ וגדעון סער במסיבת עיתונאים
    Gideon Saar and Benny Gantz announce they will run together in the November elections
    (Photo: Yair Sagi)
    Gantz went on to say that in partnership with New Hope's Saar, intend to present a centrist government that will solve the crisis, reject racism and unite all Israelis of all faiths.
    Saar said he saw Gantz as the leader of the new political home who has proven his modesty and commitment to the interests of Israel and Israelis.
    According to the latest polls, a joint run could bring them more than double the votes than if they were each to run separately, bolstering the opposition to Benjamin Netanyahu.
    2 View gallery
    Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Benjamin Netanyahu
    Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Benjamin Netanyahu
    Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Benjamin Netanyahu
    (Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch)
    Both party leaders have said they would not join a Netanyahu led government under any circumstances.
    Gantz had already experienced Netanyahu's broken assurances when the former prime minister reneged on his commitments in the coalition agreement signed between the two early in 2020,
    Sa'ar a former ally of Netanyahu and a high ranking member of the Likud party, launched his independent political venture specifically in order to prevent Netanyahu from holding on to power in the 2021 ballot.
    The two believe themselves to be the only factions in the parliamentary bloc opposing Netanyahu, who could cooperate with ultra-Orthodox parties, who have been part of Netanyahu's right-wing and religious block, in forming a future government.
    This could position their joint list ahead, to form a cabinet after the elections.
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    5.
    Gantz ruined any hopes of being PM
    If it was another tight race and the left could not form a coalition but with Gantz help Netanyahu could then alone Gantz could come out with the same story as Bennet with Lapid and claim he is doing a deal whereby he goes first in a rotation to avoid another election. Sa’ar cannot do any deals with Netanyahu who hates personally, runs a party whose sole ideology is anybody but Bibi even claims he was once offered a rotation and turned it down . Also if thee was a rotation agreement only Netanyahu and Gantz would get to be PM there is nothing in it for Sa’ar. If Gantz wanted to do a deal with Netanyahu Sa’ar would have no choice but to end the merger with BW which will harm him and Gantz but not Netanyahu so this merger designed to throw Sa’ar a lifeline get him past the threshold will probably backfire on Gantz by making sure he never gets to be PM. Most likely if there are any rotations it will be Netanyahu and Lapid rather than Netanyahu and Gantz.
    Zionist forever | 07.11.22
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    4.
    If Ultras join you,
    then I will vote Likud
    Non-Orthodox| 07.11.22
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    3.
    Personal power over integrity wins again
    Saar knew he'd fall in another election. His base saw him as a traitor to the right when he joined the coalition. They are vowing not to vote for him again. So he decided to smooch up to Gantz, who, if he had not done the usual splitting of votes with new parties al the time could have shifted to the centre-right and changed Israeli politics from extremist to more moderate. There's a winner and a loser in this combination. One will bring the other down and my bet is on Saar bringing Gantz down. Nobody among the moderates or the left will vote for a man who supported the closing of shops on shabbat and religious indoctrination in schools.
    pgr| 07.11.22
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