Gantz hails ‘historic day,’ again declares victory

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz arrives at his party’s election event, to huge applause.

Gantz is introduced as the “next prime minister” by activists. He is joined by Yair Lapid, Gabi Ashkenazi and Moshe Ya’alon.

“This is a historic day. More than a million people have chosen hope,” says Gantz. “Our nation and our society has chosen to unite, chosen to flee divisiveness.”

“None of us could have done this alone. And the whole is truly greater than its parts,” he says of his political partners, thanking them.

He also thanks Benjamin Netanyahu for his “service to the state,” to laughter.

Now “we will respect the will of the people” and form the next government, Gantz says.

“We are the winners,” he says.

“We may be new, but we aren’t naive,” he says, adding that he will wait for the final results. But Gantz says he expects the official results will be to the benefit of his party.