Blue and White (political alliance)

{{Infobox political party

| name = Blue and White

| native_name = {{Script/Hebrew|כחול לבן}}

| logo = Blue and White (political alliance) logo.svg

| colorcode = {{party color|Blue and White}}

| leader = Benny Gantz

| foundation = {{start date|2019|2|21|df=yes}}

| dissolution = {{start date|2022|8|14|df=yes}}

| ideology = {{ubl|class=nowrap|

| Liberal Zionism

}}

| position = Centre{{cite news |last1=Yakter |first1=Alon |last2=Tessler |first2=Mark |title=Netanyahu's new rival is surging in Israel's polls |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/02/26/netanyahus-new-rival-is-surging-israels-polls/ |quote=Gantz's centrist political party, Blue and White, leads the opposition despite being particularly vague on Israel’s most important ideological cleavage: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=26 February 2018}}{{cite news |last=Halbfinger |first=David M. |title=2 Israel Centrists, Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid, Join Forces Against Netanyahu |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/world/middleeast/benny-gantz-yair-lapid-netanyahu-israel.html |date=21 February 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=30 May 2019 |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}

| affiliation1_title = Member parties

| affiliation1 = Israel Resilience
Yesh Atid (2019–2020)
Telem (2019–2020)

| headquarters = Tel Aviv

| international =

| website = {{Official URL}}

| colours = {{colour box|#04BEEF|border=silver}} Blue
{{colour box|#062249|border=silver}} Dark blue
{{colour box|#FFFFFF|border=silver}} White

| seats1_title = Most MKs

| seats1 = {{nowrap|35 (April 2019)}}

| symbol = {{Script/Hebrew|פה}} (2019–2020)
{{Script/Arabic|ف‌ه}} (2019–2020)
{{Script/Hebrew|כן}} (2021–)
{{Script/Arabic|ك‌ن}} (2021–)

{{Cite web|url=https://bechirot24.bechirot.gov.il/election/Candidates/Pages/OneListCandidates.aspx?LPF=Search&WebId=6adadc15-e476-480b-9746-04490aedeb0f&ListID=ba72a662-765c-45af-9d48-fb68080956af&ItemID=185&FieldID=ListNickname_GxS_Text|title=כחול לבן בראשות בני גנץ|website=Central Election Committee for the Knesset|access-date=2021-06-14|language=he}}

| slogan = Benny. Choosing Honesty. (2021)

| country = Israel

| footnotes =

}}

Blue and White ({{langx|he|כָּחוֹל לָבָן}}, Kahol Lavan) was a centrist{{cite news |last=Halbfinger |first=David M. |title=2 Israel Centrists, Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid, Join Forces Against Netanyahu |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/world/middleeast/benny-gantz-yair-lapid-netanyahu-israel.html |date=21 February 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=30 May 2019 |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}} and liberal Zionist{{Cite web |last=Bishara |first=Hakim |date=2020-12-14 |title=Opposition Mounts Against Proposed Appointment of Far-right Chairman to Israeli Holocaust Museum |url=http://hyperallergic.com/605285/opposition-mounts-against-proposed-appointment-of-far-right-director-to-israeli-holocaust-museum/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Hyperallergic |language=en-US |quote=the liberal Zionist Blue and White party, headed by Defence Minister Benny Gantz, the son of Holocaust survivors.}}{{Cite web |title="Blue and White" - Kahol Lavan Party |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/blue-and-white-kahol-lavan-party |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org |quote=Gantz said the two parties would establish a “responsible, realistic, secure, and liberal” government. Such a coalition, he said, will “say no to racism, no to extremism, and yes to unity for all parts of the country and all types of citizens… ultra-Orthodox, Orthodox, secular; Muslims, Christians, Druze, and Jews.” Gantz added that voters “shouldn’t have to pick from the extremes.”}} political alliance in Israel. It was established by the Israel Resilience Party, Yesh Atid and Telem to run in the April 2019 Knesset election,{{cite web|author=Staff writer|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/united-gantz-lapid-party-to-be-called-blue-and-white-no-women-in-top-6/|title=United Gantz-Lapid party to be called "Blue and White"; no women in top 6|work=The Times of Israel|language=en-US|access-date=21 February 2019}} in hopes of defeating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Blue and White defines itself as a pluralistic alliance representing all citizens on the political and religious spectrums.{{cite web|url=https://bg19.co.il/platform/|script-title=he:מצע כחול לבן|website=כחול לבן|language=he-IL|access-date=20 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410052845/https://bg19.co.il/platform/|archive-date=10 April 2019|url-status=dead}} The phrase "blue and white" refers to the colors of the Israeli flag, and is colloquially used to describe something as being typically Israeli.{{cite web|url=https://milog.co.il/%D7%9B%D7%97%D7%95%D7%9C_%D7%9C%D7%91%D7%9F/|script-title=he:מילוג המילון העברי החופשי – כחול לבן פירושים|language=he-IL|access-date=26 March 2019}}

Following the March 2020 elections, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz was tasked with forming a new government after receiving endorsements from a majority of 61 MKs.{{cite web |last1=Wootliff |first1=Raoul|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-libermans-nod-gantz-gets-61-backers-to-form-coalition-topping-netanyahu/|title=Rivlin to task Gantz with forming government after he receives 61 endorsements|work=The Times of Israel|date=15 March 2020|access-date=17 March 2020}} Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Gantz instead opted to put himself forward as interim Speaker of the Knesset while continuing negotiations to form a coalition government with Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud and other parties.

The effect was a break-up of the Blue and White alliance.{{cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Gil |author-link=Gil Hoffman |title=Blue and White splits as unity deal with Likud approaches |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/likud-blue-and-white-negotiations-intensifying-622426 |website=The Jerusalem Post |date=26 March 2020 |access-date=26 March 2020}} The alliance split on 29 March 2020, with the Israel Resilience Party keeping the name Blue and White. Yesh Atid and Telem left the alliance and formed a separate faction in the Knesset.{{cite news |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-panel-okays-breakup-of-blue-and-white-gantz-keeps-name/|title=Knesset panel okays breakup of Blue and White; Gantz keeps name|author=Raoul Wootliff |work=The Times of Israel |date=29 March 2020 |access-date=29 March 2020}} On 20 April, a coalition deal was signed with Likud, in which Netanyahu would serve first as prime minister, and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz would serve as prime minister starting October 2021, as well as giving the party ministerial portfolios such as defense ministers and foreign minister.{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/a-joint-meeting-between-netanyahu-and-gantz-to-start-soon-625241|title=The deal is done: Netanyahu, Gantz ink coalition pact|website=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=21 April 2020|author=Gil Hoffman|date=21 April 2020}} However, this deal was never realized, because the Knesset collapsed in December 2020 after a major budget dispute, triggering new elections in March 2021. In the 2021 legislative election, Blue and White won eight seats and joined the government.{{Cite web|date=31 March 2021|title= תוצאות האמת של הבחירות לכנסת ה-24 תוצאות ארציות תוצאות סופיות רשמיות |url= https://votes24.bechirot.gov.il/|website=Central election committee|language=he}} After that coalition collapsed the following year, the party formed an alliance with the Gideon Sa'ar-led New Hope called National Unity, which was led by Gantz. The alliance won 12 seats.

History

File:Blue and White logo 2021.svg

File:Kahol Lavan 21.png]]

On 21 February 2019, the last day for submitting election lists for the Knesset, Yesh Atid and Israel Resilience announced that they would form an alliance for the upcoming election. Gabi Ashkenazi, also a former chief of staff, would join the list in the fourth spot.{{cite web|author=Staff writer|title=After marathon talks Gantz, Lapid agree party merger in challenge to Netanyahu|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-marathon-talks-gantz-lapid-agree-party-merger-in-challenge-to-netanyahu/|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=8 March 2019|language=en-US}}

Blue and White won 35 seats in the April 2019 Israeli legislative election, the same as Likud, and conceded defeat.{{cite web |last1=Liebermann |first1=Oren |last2=Carey |first2=Andrew |title=Netanyahu set for fifth term as Israel's leader as rival concedes defeat |date=10 April 2019 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/10/middleeast/israel-election-results-benjamin-netanyahu-benny-gantz-intl/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=22 September 2019}} President Reuven Rivlin tasked Benjamin Netanyahu with forming a governing coalition,{{cite web |author=Staff writer |title=With plea for healing, president officially taps Netanyahu to form new coalition |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/president-officially-taps-netanyahu-to-form-next-government/ |website=The Times of Israel |access-date=22 September 2019 |language=en-US}} but failed. This triggered the September 2019 Israeli legislative election.{{cite news|title=After Netanyahu Fails to Form Government, Israel to Hold New Election|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/after-netanyahu-fails-to-form-government-israel-to-hold-new-election-1.7306156|work=Haaretz|date=30 May 2019|access-date=22 September 2019}}

In the 2020 Israeli legislative election, Blue and White won 33 seats, placing it second after Likud which had 36. The alliance showing strong support in many areas,including Tel Aviv and Haifa.{{cite web | url=https://elections.kaplanopensource.co.il/2020/ | title=מפת הבחירות לכנסת ה-23 }} On 8 March 2020, Avigdor Lieberman gave Gantz his backing to form a new government.{{cite web |last1=Rabinowitz |first1=Aaron |author2=Haaretz |title=Gantz Agrees to Lieberman's Terms for Entering Government |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium-gantz-agrees-to-lieberman-s-terms-for-entering-government-1.8638959 |work=Haaretz |date=8 March 2020}} The next day, the Joint List agreed to work with Gantz and Lieberman to oust Netanyahu.{{cite web |title=Israel's Gantz woos Joint List after reaching agreement with Lieberman |url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israels-gantz-woos-joint-list-after-reaching-agreement-lieberman |website=Middle East Eye |date=9 March 2020 |access-date=10 March 2020}} As of 10 March 2020, it remained unclear whether Gantz would be able to gain sufficient MK votes to form a government,{{cite news |title=Gantz's Three Options to Oust Netanyahu and Become Prime Minister|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium-elections-or-a-never-netanyahu-gov-t-7-scenarios-for-the-next-israeli-coalition-1.8642994 |work=Haaretz |date=9 March 2020 |access-date=10 March 2020}} as Labor-Gesher-Meretz MK Orly Levy announced she would not support a minority government and left the Labor-Meretz alliance. Zvi Hauser and Yoaz Hendel (both Blue and White MKs) had also previously made known that they would not support a government with the Joint List's support.{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Orly-Levy-Abecassis-opposes-Arab-Joint-List-backed-government-620470|title=Orly Levy's flipflop kills minority government|date=10 March 2020|work=The Jerusalem Post|author=Gil Hoffman|access-date=10 March 2020}} An aide also stated that Gantz plans to form a government by 23 March.{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/gantz-plans-to-swiftly-put-together-minority-government-report/|title=Gantz said planning to put together minority government by March 23|work=The Times of Israel|date=10 March 2020|access-date=10 March 2020}} Lieberman and Labor party leader Amir Peretz also reaffirmed on 11 March that an alliance with the Joint List would not change their position on forming a political alliance with Gantz.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/gantz-peretz-press-ahead-with-center-left-coalition-bid-despite-setbacks/|title=Gantz, Peretz press ahead with center-left coalition bid despite setbacks|work=The Times of Israel|date=11 March 2020|access-date=12 March 2020}} On 15 March 2020, 61 of the 120 MKs told Israeli President Reuven Rivlin that they would back Gantz as Israeli Prime Minister, which resulted in Rivlin announcing that he had asked Gantz to form the new government. On 26 March, one day after Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein resigned, Gantz instead agreed to become Speaker of the Knesset. The fact that right-wingers in Likud Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition agreed to support Gantz's bid to become Speaker put the future of the Blue and White alliance in jeopardy.{{cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1drie9UI|title=Blue & White in turmoil as Gantz stands for Knesset speaker with right-wing support|date=26 March 2020|website=ynetnews}} The same day, MKs elected Gantz as the new Speaker of the Knesset by a margin of 74–18, with Yesh Atid, Labor and Yisrael Beytenu MKs boycotting the vote.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/551996b1c6e940358cf00351babc6cdc|title=Netanyahu rival becomes parliament speaker, signaling deal|last=Federman|first=Josef|date=26 March 2020|website=Associated Press|access-date=26 March 2020}}

However, Lapid's Yesh Atid and Ya'alon's Telem asked to split from the Israel Resilience Party, and requested that the two parties keep the name Blue and White as the name of their recreated political party.{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Likud-Blue-and-White-negotiations-intensifying-622426|title=Blue and White splits as unity deal with Likud approaches|date=26 March 2020|work=The Jerusalem Post|author=Gil Hoffman|access-date=26 March 2020}} On 27 March 2020, it was revealed that a major obstacle to a potential long-term alliance between Gantz and Netanyahu emerged with regards to implementing U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan. Barak Ravid of Israel's Channel 13 news revealed that Gantz, despite previously claiming that he wanted to implement this peace plan, still wanted to hold peace talks with the Palestinians, which Trump and Netanyahu still opposed. Ravid stated that this would likely make the upcoming deal between Gantz and Netanyahu short-lived. As part of the proposed coalition deal between Netanyahu and Gantz, Gantz would replace Netanyahu as Prime Minister of Israel in 18 months.{{cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/trump-peace-plan-annexation-gantz-netanyahu-02d228a7-b5a9-49e7-ac15-e8676a193ce7.html|title=Trump peace plan a sticking point in Israel's Netanyahu-Gantz pact|author=Barak Ravid|date=27 March 2020|work=Axios|access-date=27 March 2020}} Subsequently, after long negotiations a compromise deal was reached over the peace plan.{{cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/04/intel-netanyahu-gantz-west-bank-annexation-deal.html|title=Intel: Netanyahu, Gantz strike West Bank annexation deal|last=Staff|first=Al-Monitor|date=6 April 2020|website=Al-Monitor|access-date=8 April 2020}}

On 6 April 2020, Amir Peretz, leader of the Israeli Labor Party, announced that his party might be merging with Blue and White.{{cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Gil |title=Labor to merge with Benny Gantz's Blue and White Party |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Labor-to-merge-with-Benny-Gantzs-Blue-and-White-party-623766 |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=6 April 2020 |access-date=6 April 2020}}

On 20 April 2020, the coalition deal was officially signed, with Blue and White having an equal number of ministers as the Right.{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/why-is-the-new-coalition-deal-so-controversial-625332|title=Why is the new coalition deal so controversial?|website=The Jerusalem Post|date=21 April 2020 |access-date=21 April 2020}} Blue and White received the Justice, Economy, Labor and Welfare, Communications, Agriculture, Culture and Sports, Absorption, Tourism, Minorities, Diaspora, Science and Space, Strategic Affairs, and Social Affairs ministries. The positions of foreign minister, energy minister and environmental protection minister will rotate upon the change of prime minister.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-unity-deal-gantz-hopes-hes-compelled-netanyahu-to-let-him-be-pm-one-day/|title=In 'unity' deal, Gantz hopes he's compelled Netanyahu to let him be PM one day|last=Horovitz|first=David|website=www.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US|access-date=21 April 2020}} The terms of the agreement also provide that Gantz serve as defense minister when the new government is sworn in.{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium-after-gantz-and-netanyahu-sign-coalition-deal-this-is-israel-s-likely-next-cabinet-1.8786155|title=Netanyahu-Gantz Coalition Deal: This Is Israel's Likely Next Cabinet|first=Chaim|last=Levinson|publisher=Haaretz|date=21 April 2020|access-date=21 April 2020}}

On 30 April, the bill approving the new coalition government was given its first approval in Knesset.{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium-knesset-backs-bill-meant-to-ensure-netanyahu-gantz-rotation-in-first-of-three-votes-1.8810735|title=Knesset backs bill meant to ensure Netanyahu-Gantz rotation in first of three votes|newspaper=Haaretz}} On 6 May, the coalition agreement was approved by the Israeli Supreme Court.{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/court-set-to-decide-on-fate-of-coalition-deal-on-thursday-627158|title=High Court green lights Netanyahu, coalition deal|website=The Jerusalem Post|author=Yonah Jeremy Bob|date=6 May 2020|access-date=6 May 2020}} The same day, both Blue and White and Likud issued a joint statement claiming that the new unity government would be sworn in the following week.{{cite web|url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/1588795078-israel-likud-blue-and-white-say-unity-gov-t-to-be-sworn-in-next-week|title=Israel: Likud, Blue and White say unity gov't to be sworn in next week|website=i24News|date=6 May 2020|access-date=6 May 2020}} On 7 May, the bill approving the new government became law after it was given its final approval in Knesset.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-okays-raft-of-legislation-anchoring-new-unity-coalition/|title=Knesset okays full legislative package anchoring new unity coalition|first=T. O. I.|last=staff|website=www.timesofisrael.com}} The new Israeli government, consisting of many Blue and White and Likud coalition members, was sworn in on 17 May 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium-israel-s-biggest-government-set-to-be-sworn-in-this-is-what-it-would-look-like-1.8845810|title=After year of deadlock and days of delays, Knesset swears in new Israeli government|newspaper=Haaretz}}

File:Blue and White New Hope logo July 2022.svg during 2022 Israeli legislative election]]

On 10 July 2022, Gantz and Gideon Sa'ar agreed to sign a joint faction agreement,{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/nozaf2n25|title=In political partnership Gantz, Sa'ar aim for unity government|website= Ynet|access-date=13 March 2024|date=10 July 2022|first1=Moran|last1=Azulai|first2=Yuval|last2=Karni|archive-date=31 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031154831/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/nozaf2n25|url-status= live}} under the overall name Blue and White The New Hope.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/100-days-out-from-election-campaign-ads-battle-for-soft-right-voters/|title=100 days out from election, campaign ads battle for soft-right voters|work=The Times of Israel|date=25 July 2022|first=Carrie|last=Keller-Lynn|accessdate=14 August 2022|archive-date=15 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815012333/https://www.timesofisrael.com/100-days-out-from-election-campaign-ads-battle-for-soft-right-voters/|url-status=live}} The following month, the alliance was joined by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot and former Yamina MK Matan Kahana and was renamed National Unity.{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-714658|title=Eisenkot joins Gantz, Sa'ar in National Unity Party|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=14 August 2022|author1=Staff writer|author2=Eliav Breuer|accessdate=13 March 2024|archive-date=14 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814061707/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-714658|url-status=live}}

Former composition

Blue and White consisted of one political party, Israel Resilience, which holds eight seats in the Knesset. Yesh Atid and Telem were previously part of an alliance with Israel Resilience. While not being formally part of it, the Israeli Labor Party and Derekh Eretz worked with the alliance on a parliamentary basis during the term of the twenty-third Knesset. On 10 July 2022, Blue and White signed a joint ticket agreement with New Hope, for the upcoming legislative election.{{Cite news |date=10 July 2022 |title=Blue and White, New Hope announce union, will run as joint slate in November vote |work=The Times of Israel |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/blue-and-white-new-hope-confirm-new-union-will-run-as-joint-slate-in-november-vote/|access-date=29 March 2024}} The ticket was named Blue and White-New Hope, with Gantz as its prime ministerial candidate.

{| class="wikitable"

! colspan=2| Name

! Ideology

! Position

! Leader

| style="background:{{party color|Israel Resilience Party}}"|

| style="width:200px" | Israel Resilience

| style="width:250px" | Zionism

| style="width:100px" | Centre to centre-right

| style="width:150px" | Benny Gantz

| style="background:{{party color|Yesh Atid}}"|

| style="width:200px" | Yesh Atid

| style="width:250px" | Liberal Zionism
Secularism

| style="width:150px" | Centre

| style="width:150px" | Yair Lapid

| style="background:{{party color|Telem (2019 political party)}}"|

| style="width:200px" | Telem

| style="width:250px" | Liberal Zionism
National liberalism

| style="width:150px" | Centre to centre-right

| style="width:150px" | Moshe Ya'alon

=Israel Resilience Party=

On 16 February 2015, Benny Gantz completed his term as Chief of Staff and began a three-year legal moratorium in which he could not run for the Knesset. This ended on 2 July 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.93fm.co.il/radio/471595/ |title=רוץ בני, רוץ: תקופת הצינון של הרמטכ"ל לשעבר תמה|last=אנונימית|date=2 July 2018 |work=רדיו קול חי}} In September 2018, it was reported that Gantz planned to enter politics.{{cite web |url=https://www.mako.co.il/news-military/politics-q3_2018/Article-1d4f85202dda561004.htm |title=החדשות – "בני גנץ החליט להצטרף לפוליטיקה" |date=6 September 2018 |work=mako}} On 26 December 2018, the 20th Knesset voted to dissolve itself and hold early elections. A day later, on 27 December, after 109 people signed a list of founders, the party was officially registered with the name Israel Resilience Party.[https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/news/political_party_271218/he/political_party.pdf List of founders] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227230419/https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/news/political_party_271218/he/political_party.pdf |date=27 December 2018}} The Registrar of Political Parties website {{in lang|he}}

=Telem=

In May 2016, "amidst wide-spread speculation that he would be fired by Netanyahu", Moshe Ya'alon resigned from his defense minister post. On 12 March 2017, Ya'alon officially relinquished his membership of Likud, announcing that he would form a new party to challenge Netanyahu in the next election.{{cite web |last=Magid |first=Jacob |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/former-defense-minister-yaalon-officially-quits-likud/|title=Former defense minister Ya'alon officially quits Likud|date=12 March 2017|work=The Times of Israel}} Ya'alon registered Telem on 2 January 2019.{{cite web |last=Wootliff |first=Raoul |title=Former defense chief Ya'alon launches new political party, Telem |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/former-defense-chief-yaalon-launches-new-political-party-telem|work=The Times of Israel|date=2 January 2019|access-date=8 March 2019}} Telem announced an alliance with Israel Resilience on 29 January 2019.{{cite web |author=Staff writer |title=Launching bid to replace Netanyahu, Gantz vows to unify Israel, end incitement |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/breaking-political-silence-gantz-indicates-he-wont-serve-under-indicted-pm/ |work=The Times of Israel |date=30 January 2019 |access-date=27 February 2019 |language=en-US}}

=Yesh Atid=

Yesh Atid was founded by Yair Lapid in 2012, running on a platform representing the centre of Israeli society.{{cite news |last=Garofalo |first=Elise |title=Israeli Election Primer – What You Should Know |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/01/israel-election-primer.html |work=Newshour |publisher=PBS |date=21 January 2013 |access-date=19 September 2013 |archive-date=13 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913090325/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/01/israel-election-primer.html |url-status=dead }} In 2013, it placed second in the general election, winning 19 seats.{{cite news |last=Kershner |first=Isabel |author-link=Isabel Kershner |title=Charismatic Leader Helps Israel Turn Toward the Center |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/world/middleeast/yair-lapid-guides-yesh-atid-party-to-success-in-israeli-elections.html |work=The New York Times |pages=A10 |date=23 January 2013 |access-date=23 January 2013}} It then entered into a coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud. In the lead-up to the 2015 election, Lapid's campaign continued to emphasize economic issues, while heavily criticizing Netanyahu and his Likud party.{{cite news |author=Ido Ben Porat |date=9 February 2015 |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/191089 |title=Yesh Atid MK: We'll Prefer Herzog Over Netanyahu |publisher=Israel National News |access-date=14 June 2015}}{{cite news |author=Jodi Rudoren |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/28/world/middleeast/isaac-herzog-israel-fears-elections.html |title=Israeli Center-Left Leader Seeks Path Forward |newspaper=The New York Times |date=28 March 2015 |page=A8 |access-date=14 June 2015}} Receiving 11 seats, they placed fourth and sat in the opposition.{{cite web|url=http://www.votes20.gov.il/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318200737/http://www.votes20.gov.il/|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 March 2015|title=ועדת הבחירות המרכזית לכנסת ה-20 {{!}} תוצאות ארציות|date=18 March 2015|access-date=29 March 2019}}

Platform and positions

On 25 February 2019, Lapid stated that the alliance wished to amend the Nation-State Bill, intending to add a civil equality article.{{cite web |last=Harkov |first=Lahav |title=What are Blue and White's plans for the Nation-State Law? |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/What-are-Blue-and-Whites-plans-for-the-Nation-State-Law-581733 |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=25 February 2019 |access-date=27 February 2019}} Blue and White's manifesto was released on 6 March 2019. The document reveals positions on several policy areas, key among them a commitment to engage with peace-minded Arab neighbors and a willingness to enter into negotiations with the Palestinians, albeit without land concessions.{{cite web |last=Wootliff |first=Raoul |title=Blue and White releases its political platform: 'No second disengagement' |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/blue-and-white-releases-its-political-platform-no-second-disengagement/ |work=The Times of Israel |date=6 March 2019 |access-date=6 March 2019 |language=en-US}}

Since the split and Gantz joining Netanyahu, many of the policies listed below have been abandoned by Blue and White.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

Policies included limiting the prime minister to eight years or three terms and preventing anyone convicted of a serious crime from being a public official.{{Cite news|url=https://m.ynet.co.il/Articles/5474354|title=מצע כחול לבן המלא פורסם: "לא תהיה התנתקות שנייה"|newspaper=Ynet|date=6 March 2019|access-date=20 March 2019 |last1=קרני |first1=יובל }} The alliance stated that they would return money previously taken by political parties in behind-the-scene deals and using it to reduce the cost of health care, education, and living.{{Cite web|url=http://www.israelnews.co.il/%d7%91%d7%a0%d7%99-%d7%92%d7%a0%d7%a5-%d7%91%d7%a8%d7%90%d7%99%d7%95%d7%9f-%d7%9e%d7%99%d7%95%d7%97%d7%93-%d7%9c%d7%93%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%99%d7%94-%d7%9c%d7%9e%d7%a4%d7%9c-%d7%91%d7%97%d7%93%d7%a9%d7%95/|script-title=he:בני גנץ בראיון מיוחד לדוריה למפל בחדשות הערב בכאן 11: "סיפור הצוללות עצוב ומטריד מבחינה שלטונית"|last=ברטוב|first=אביעד|date=19 March 2019|website=Israel News|language=he-IL|access-date=20 March 2019}} A diplomatic initiative for peace with the Palestinians was put forward.{{Cite web|url=https://bg19.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/blueandwhiteplatform.pdf|title=מצע כחול לבן 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091028/https://bg19.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/blueandwhiteplatform.pdf|archive-date=27 March 2019|url-status=dead}} The alliance also supported the right of citizens to marry, divorce, parent, and be buried according to their specific beliefs, and the responsibility of all citizens to serve in the army, regardless of their religious levels.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mishmar.org.il/page.php?p=30542|title=בחירות 2019: מצע מפלגת כחול לבן בתחום הדת והמדינה.|website=על משמר הכנסת|access-date=20 March 2019}}

During its March 2019 campaign, the alliance's platform included the following pledges:

Governmental corruption: Impose term limits on the prime minister to a maximum of three terms or eight years. Indicted or convicted politicians would be barred from running for public office. Gantz abandoned that once he scrapped the bill to ban an indicted person from being given the Prime Ministerial mandate.{{cite news|last=Holmes|first=Oliver|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/26/benny-gantz-elected-israeli-speaker-signalling-deal-with-netanyahu|title=Benny Gantz elected Israeli speaker, signalling deal with Netanyahu|date=26 March 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=8 April 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}
Religion and state: The protection of the Jewish identity of the state, as well as the identities of all of its citizens. Civil marriage would be made permissible in some form,[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/who-is-benny-gantz-netanyahu-israel-election-1.7087481 Everything You Need to Know About Benny Gantz, the General Vying to Take Down Netanyahu], Haaretz (7 April 2019).Judy Maltz, [https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium-gantz-s-party-promises-egalitarian-prayer-space-at-western-wall-civil-marriage-1.7017780 Gantz's Party Promises non-Orthodox Recognition at Western Wall, Civil Marriages], Haartez (12 March 2019). allowing people to marry according to their own beliefs. Enforce the 2016 agreement to create an expanded place for egalitarian prayers at the Western Wall, which had been suspended by the Netanyahu government. Gantz abandoned that plan once he entered into a Netanyahu-led government.
Education: Investing in early education and kindergartens and subsidising daycare for young children.{{cite web|url=https://www.yeshatid.org.il/%D7%94%D7%92%D7%99%D7%9C-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%9A|title=הגיל הרך {{!}} כחול-לבן|website=Yesh Atid|language=he|access-date=20 March 2019|archive-date=17 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917004654/https://www.yeshatid.org.il/%D7%94%D7%92%D7%99%D7%9C-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%9A|url-status=dead}} English and mathematics would be highly prioritized in elementary, middle, and high school.
Health: Approximately 12.5 billion NIS (US$3.4 billion) would be invested in health care for all Israeli citizens.{{cite web|url=https://www.calcalist.co.il/local/articles/0,7340,L-3757580,00.html|title=מצע "כחול לבן": תוספת של 12.5 מיליארד שקלים למערכת הבריאות על פני 5 שנים|last=זרחיה|first=צבי|date=4 March 2019|website=כלכליסט – www.calcalist.co.il|access-date=20 March 2019}} The alliance pledged to fight hospital closures and to increase access to medicine throughout the country, including the periphery. This was scrapped for a bigger spending bill to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
Economy: Shift to a focus on macroeconomics,{{cite web|url=https://www.yeshatid.org.il/economy|title=כלכלה, חברה ויוקר המחיה {{!}} כחול-לבן|website=Yesh Atid|language=he|access-date=20 March 2019}} seek to encourage innovation in STEM fields, and encourage more women and Hasidic Jews to enter the workforce.
Israel-Palestinian conflict: On 7 March, in a speech to an English-speaking audience, Lapid laid out four conditions for a peace deal with the Palestinians. Those were later abandoned by Gantz when he entered the Netanyahu coalition and agreed to an annexation plan.
The Jordan Valley remaining in Israeli hands.
No Palestinian right of return.
Jerusalem remaining the undivided capital of Israel.{{cite news |last=Jessen |first=Sophia |title=Yair Lapid Outlines Four Demands for Peace With Palestinians |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/yair-lapid-outlines-four-demands-for-peace-with-palestinians-1.7000533 |work=Haaretz |date=7 March 2019}}

Leaders

File:Blue_and_White3.jpg and Yair Lapid]]

The alliance is led by Benny Gantz. Formerly Yair Lapid and Gantz served as co-leaders, until the 2020 split within the party.

The agreement was should it become the lead faction in forming a government, the two agreed to a rotation which would have had Gantz serving for the first two years as prime minister, with Lapid as foreign minister and Telem leader Moshe Ya'alon (in the third slot on the list) as defense minister. For the next two years, Lapid would have served as prime minister, with Gantz as defense minister.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Gantz-Lapid-agree-to-run-together-581301|title=Gantz and Lapid's 'Blue and White' reveals list, only 2 women in top 10|work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=8 March 2019|author=Gil Hoffman|date=21 February 2019 }}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

! colspan="3" | Leader

! Took office

! Left office

| style="background: {{party color|Blue and White}}; color: white" |

|70px

|Benny Gantz

| 2019

| 2022

| style="background: {{party color|Blue and White}}; color: white" |

| 70px

| Yair Lapid