Report: Former IDF chief Gantz in talks to be Zionist Union's candidate for PM

Veteran journalist Ben Caspit says Gantz, Avi Gabbay close to agreeing on deal that will see the latter keep party chairmanship, receive top ministerial post; Gabbay denies claim

Former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz is in talks with the Zionist Union to be the party’s candidate for prime minister in the next national elections, veteran political reporter Ben Caspit wrote in the Maariv newspaper Friday.

According to Caspit, Gantz has met multiple times with Zionist Union head Avi Gabbay in recent months, and the latter has pressed him to join.

Senior sources in the Zionist Union, an alliance between the Labor and Hatnuah parties, told Caspit that they are close to reaching an agreement whereby Gantz will be the Union’s candidate for the premiership in the next election, while Gabbay will remain its chairman and the first on its roster.

The two have reportedly agreed that should Gantz form the next government, Gabbay will be a senior minister. If not, Gabbay will continue to lead the party.

The report said internal polling showed that with Gantz at the helm, the Union could win 25 seats in the Knesset, as opposed to 15 with Gabbay.

Zionist Union chairman Avi Gabbay leads a faction meeting in Knesset on May 7, 2018. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Gabbay, speaking to Haaretz, confirmed that Gantz was considering joining the Zionist Union but denied any deal had been made. “We have no agreement on anything,” he said.

According to the report political leaders believe Israel’s next election will be held in early or mid-2019.

Gantz, 58, who served as the military’s chief of staff from February 2011 until February 2015, commanded the 2014 war in Gaza.

He and the army drew considerable criticism in a state comptroller report published in February 2017, which said it had not adequately prepared to face the threat of Hamas attack tunnels.

In January, Gantz said during a conference in Eilat that it would “take some time” before he entered politics, but indicated that he was in talks with several political parties.

Last April, together with another former army chief, Gabi Ashkenazi, and a former Yesh Atid party education minister, Rabbi Shai Piron, Gantz launched a social movement aimed at healing rifts in Israel society and encouraging dialogue between Israelis from various communities.