Will Gantz form an alliance with Ya'alon, Lapid? Getting closer - reports
The two former IDF chiefs of staff, have been rumored to be joining forces and create a "generals party" to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
By URI BOLLAGUpdated: JANUARY 18, 2019 11:46Benny Gantz(photo credit: SAPIR COLLEGE/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)
Israel Resilience chairman Benny Gantz is close to signing a deal with Moshe Ya'alon, who heads his recently formed Telem party, to run jointly in the upcoming Knesset election, according to a report from Yediot Aharonot on Friday.The two former IDF chiefs of staff, have been rumored to be joining forces and create a "generals party" to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.According to recent Israeli polls, Gantz would receive anywhere between 11 and 16 seats if elections were held today, while Ya'alon runs the risk of not passing the election threshold of 3.25%.An announcement confirming the alliance is expected soon, the report said.Gantz, whose views and party platform remain ambiguous as he largely avoids expressing himself in public, is also rumored to be in talks with Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Orly Levy-Abecasis' Gesher party, although the Israeli report said that the discussions with Levy-Abecasis had been suspended due to legal issues.Should Gantz team up with Lapid, their joint party could constitute a real challenge to Netanyahu, as Yesh Atid also receives double digits in polls.Gantz might also have to prepare himself for questions regarding his campaign slogan. In a video released on Thursday on social media, the former IDF chief announced his party's slogan “Israel before everything.” According to Yediot Aharonot the slogan is identical to the campaign slogan that Ran Konik used in his municipal election bid for Givatayim, just three months ago.
