National Unity (Israel) Explained

National Unity
Foundation:14 August 2022
Country:Israel
Affiliation1 Title:Member parties
Leader:Benny Gantz
Founders:Benny Gantz
Gideon Sa'ar
Gadi Eisenkot
Matan Kahana
Colours: Blue
White
Seats1 Title:Knesset
Symbol:
Ideology:Zionism
Position:Centre[1] to centre-right

The National Unity or State Camp (Hebrew: המחנה הממלכתי|HaMahane HaMamlakhti)[2] is an Israeli political alliance made up of former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz's Israel Resilience Party, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot and MK Matan Kahana.

The alliance was created to participate in the 2022 Israeli legislative election. It had been part of the Thirty-seventh government of Israel, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, from October 2023 to June 2024. Gideon Sa'ar's New Hope party left the alliance in March 2024.

History

Gantz and Sa'ar announced an alliance between their two parties on 10 July,[3] which was initially called Blue and White The New Hope.[4] The alliance was joined by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot and former Yamina MK Matan Kahana on 14 August, at which point it was renamed the National Unity Party.[5] Yamina MK Shirly Pinto joined the party on 22 August.[6] The alliance won 12 seats in the election.[7]

Five members of the party (Benny Gantz, Gadi Eizenkot, Gideon Sa'ar, Hili Tropper and Yifat Shasha-Biton) joined the Thirty-seventh government of Israel as ministers without portfolio in October 2023, following the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war; Gantz and Eisenkot also joined the Israeli war cabinet.[8] Sa'ar announced on 12 March 2024 that New Hope would leave the National Unity alliance, and again become an independent faction.[9] The split was approved the next day.[10]

On 18 May, Gantz set an 8 June deadline for a "clear plan of action" regarding the war; if not met, his party would leave the coalition.[11] His party also filed a bill on 30 May 2024 to dissolve the Knesset.[12] The scheduled announcement was postponed, after the 2024 Nuseirat rescue operation was made the same day.[13] Gantz announced on 9 June that he had exited the government,[14] with other party members also submitting their resignations the same night.[15]

Composition

NameIdeologyPositionLeaderCurrent MKs
Blue and White Israel ResilienceZionismCentreBenny Gantz
Independents

Knesset members

Knesset termSeatsMembers
2022–202412Benny Gantz, Gideon Sa'ar, Gadi Eisenkot, Pnina Tamano-Shata, Yifat Shasha-Biton, Hili Tropper, Ze’ev Elkin, Michael Biton, Matan Kahana, Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Sharren Haskel, Alon Schuster
2024-present8Benny Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot, Pnina Tamano-Shata, Hili Tropper, Michael Biton, Matan Kahana, Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Alon Schuster

Notes and References

  1. News: Israel Democracy Institute. Israeli Elections and Parties. 13 March 2024. The National Unity Party (HaMachane HaMamlakhti) is a centrist Zionist electoral list established in the run-up to the 2022 elections.. 13 March 2024.
  2. Web site: Ex-IDF chief Eisenkot, former Yamina minister Kahana join Gantz-led 'National Unity'. The Times of Israel. 14 August 2022. 14 August 2022. Carrie. Keller-Lynn. 31 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221031160325/https://www.timesofisrael.com/ex-military-chief-eisenkot-enters-politics-will-run-with-gantz-led-national-camp/. live.
  3. News: In political partnership Gantz, Sa'ar aim for unity government. Ynet. 14 August 2022. 10 July 2022. Moran. Azulai. Yuval. Karni. 31 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221031154831/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/nozaf2n25. live.
  4. Web site: 100 days out from election, campaign ads battle for soft-right voters. The Times of Israel. 25 July 2022. Carrie. Keller-Lynn. 14 August 2022. 15 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220815012333/https://www.timesofisrael.com/100-days-out-from-election-campaign-ads-battle-for-soft-right-voters/. live.
  5. Web site: Eisenkot joins Gantz, Sa'ar in National Unity Party. The Jerusalem Post. 14 August 2022. Staff writer. Eliav Breuer. 18 October 2023. 14 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220814061707/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-714658. live.
  6. Web site: Israel Elections: Shirely Pinto leaves Zionist Spirit for Gantz's National Unity. The Jerusalem Post. 22 August 2022. 23 August 2022. 22 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220822172857/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-715277. live.
  7. Web site: Election 2022: Final results announced with Netanyahu receiving 32 seats. 3 November 2022. 14 March 2024. The Jerusalem Post.
  8. News: Knesset okays war cabinet; PM: Saturday ‘most horrible day for Jews since Holocaust. 31 October 2023 . 12 October 2023 . . Keller-Lynn. Carrie. 12 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231012222230/https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-okays-war-cabinet-pm-saturday-most-horrible-day-for-jews-since-holocaust/ . live .
  9. Web site: Sokol . Sam . 12 March 2024 . Sa’ar splits from Gantz’s National Unity party, demands seat in war cabinet. 13 March 2024. The Times of Israel.
  10. Web site: Breuer . Eliav . 13 March 2024 . Benny Gantz on Gideon Sa'ar breaking away: Not the time for politics. 13 March 2024. The Jerusalem Post.
  11. News: Berman. Lazar. writer. Staff. Gantz sets June 8 deadline for PM to make post-war plan, or he’ll bolt coalition. . 19 May 2024 . en. 7 June 2024.
  12. News: Sokol. Sam. Still in coalition, Gantz’s National Unity party files bill to dissolve Knesset. . 30 May 2024. 31 May 2024 . en.
  13. Web site: Netanyahu urges Gantz not to bolt government in wake of successful hostage rescue. The Times of Israel. 8 June 2024. 8 June 2024. Berman. Lazar.
  14. News: Young. Eve. Lazaroff. Tovah. Benny Gantz resigns from wartime government. . 9 June 2024 . en. 9 June 2024.
  15. News: Sokol. Sam. Urging elections, Gantz quits wartime government, accuses PM of botching war effort. . 9 June 2024 . en. 9 June 2024.

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