Erdan resigns from IAI board, fueling speculation of political comeback with new right-wing party

By Ariela Karmel

You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

24 June 2026, 2:43 pm

Edit

Ariela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.

Gilad Erdan take part in a special ceremony for a new bulletproof ambulance donated by the Harvest Christian Fellowship to Magen David Adom, at the Tower of David in the Old City of Jerusalem, June 1, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Former UN ambassador and Likud minister Gilad Erdan announces his resignation from the board of Israel Aerospace Industries, fueling renewed speculation that he is preparing a return to politics ahead of the upcoming national election.

Upon announcing his resignation, Erdan told fellow board members that he is currently making “significant decisions” and that these matters are commanding most of his attention, according to a Channel 12 report.

The move comes amid ongoing reports that Erdan is exploring the creation of a new right-wing political party, which he publicly confirmed last month.

Erdan and Likud MK Yuli Edelstein were reported in May to have reached initial understandings regarding the establishment of a new party.

The two have also reportedly been in contact with other right-wing figures, including Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, former finance minister Moshe Kahlon, former Beit Shemesh mayor Aliza Bloch, former IDF general Ofer Winter, and former fire commissioner Dedi Simhi (who is now reportedly expected to run with Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party).

The initiative, dubbed “Likud B,” is reportedly aimed at creating a more “statesmanlike” alternative to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud, eschewing some of the extreme populist elements of his party and catering to right-wing voters dissatisfied with the current government.

However, sources familiar with the initiative previously told The Times of Israel that the party would be willing to partner with Netanyahu and far-right figures like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

They added that any such party would be open to partnering with former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot, but not The Democrats’ Yair Golan.