// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy did Unity in Israel go to therapy? It had a lot to unite.
Unity האחדות | |
|---|---|
.png) | |
| Leader | Gilad Erdan |
| Founder | |
| Founded | 6 August 2026 |
| Dissolved | 4 September 2026 |
| Split from | Likud |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| Colours | Blue Light blue Olive green |
| Knesset | 0 / 120 |
| Website | |
| haachdut | |
Unity (Hebrew: האחדות, romanized: HaAchdut) was a right-wing political party in Israel which was founded in August 2026 by Yuli Edelstein and Gilad Erdan, ahead of the 2026 Israeli legislative election. The party withdrew from the election in early September 2026.
Background and founding
Yuli Edelstein, who served as the chair of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, was removed from the position in July 2025 after he refused to support a bill which would have allowed many Ultra-Orthodox to be exempt from the draft.[1]
Gilad Erdan, who served as a minister, confirmed in early May 2026 that he was considering forming a new party.[2] Edelstein and Erdan were in talks in late May regarding the potential formation of a new party.[3]
He and Erdan launched a new party on 6 August 2026 in Tel Aviv.[4] Erdan stated that the party would form a "broad Zionist government" and would be in favor of a broad draft that included all people.[5] Erdan will lead the party.[6]
Former Beit Shemesh mayor Aliza Bloch joined the party on 10 August.[7] The name of the party, Unity, was unveiled the following day.[8] Oren Smadja joined the party on 12 August.[9] On 13 August, it was reported that several Likud MKs were considering defecting to Unity after the former party decided to ban incumbent MKs from running on Likud regional district spots in the 2026 Likud primary leading up to the 2026 legislative election.[10]
2026 election campaign and withdrawal
Erdan said in an interview in early September that Unity was considering allying with other parties to reach the electoral threshold.[11]
Erdan held unsuccessful talks with Benny Gantz of Blue and White over a possible alliance on 4 September; Erdan announced the same day that Unity withdrew from the election, citing poor polling that left the party below the electoral threshold, an unwillingness by the public to accept a unity government, and unfruitful alliance negotiations.[12]
Election results
| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/− | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Gilad Erdan | Withdrew | 0 / 120 |
 0 |
Extra-parliamentary | |
References
- ↑ Sokol, Sam (23 July 2025). "Ousting Edelstein, Likud elects Bismuth to head key panel, advance Haredi draft exemption law". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ "Erdan confirms mulling the formation of a unified right-wing party". Arutz Sheva. 7 May 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ Karmel, Ariela; Sokol, Sam (27 May 2026). "Veteran Likud members Erdan, Edelstein said to make progress toward forming new party". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ "Erdan and Edelstein unveil still-unnamed party: 'Likud no longer represents its voters'". The Times of Israel. 6 August 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ Baruch, Hezki (6 August 2026). "Gilad Erdan announces new party, promises new law for blanket conscription". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ Neev, Keshet; Halpern, Sam (6 August 2026). "'Right, enlistment, unity': Ex-UN ambassador Gilad Erdan launches new party with Edelstein". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ Baruch, Hezki (10 August 2026). "Former Beit Shemesh mayor joins Erdan-Edelstein party". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ Azulay, Moran (11 August 2026). "Erdan and Edelstein's party name: 'Unity'". Ynet. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ Azulay, Moran (12 August 2026). "Olympic medalist Oren Smadja joins Gilad Erdan: 'Unity is more important than any political dispute'". Ynet. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "דיווח: מספר ח"כים מהליכוד שוקלים לערוק למפלגה החדשה". Srugim (in Hebrew). Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ↑ Neev, Keshet (3 September 2026). "Gilad Erdan says Unity Party weighs alliances, seeks broad government without radicals - interview". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 3 September 2026.
- ↑ "Unity Party leader Gilad Erdan withdraws from election after failed merger talks". The Jerusalem Post. 4 September 2026. Retrieved 5 September 2026.