MK Chili Tropper announced on Sunday that he will leave the Blue and White Party, led by Benny Gantz, and hold consultations with political figures to determine his next steps in finding a new framework ahead of the upcoming elections.
The move marks another blow to Gantz's party after a series of departures from lawmakers who are now members of the Yashar! Party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, who had been Gantz's second in command.
The departure also comes as the Blue and White Party has been unable to pass the electoral threshold in recent polls.
Announcing the departure, Tropper said that in the coming weeks, he will meet with everyone he believes "should be part of rebuilding the country’s leadership, and afterward, I will decide on the political framework that I believe is right."
He said that he was leaving the party because he could no longer "realize his worldview" and that "meaningful influence is no longer possible within the Blue and White party."
Gantz described the departure as a "painful day," and added that Tropper was the first person he brought to help build the party.
The Blue and White leader noted that Tropper "was with me at every decision-making point."
Despite the loss, Gantz said that Blue and White would "continue charging forward."
Blue and White stated that "Gantz and Tropper expressed mutual appreciation for their partnership and shared belief in their path, and expressed hope that each of them will continue contributing to the country in their own way."
Blue and White suffers setbacks as MKs continue to leave party
Amid failure to clear the electoral threshold in recent polls, the party has also been distanced from the opposition bloc seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming elections.
Gantz has indicated that he would not object to teaming up with Netanyahu, and has recently called for a “broad Zionist government."
Although the Blue and White Party is in the opposition, Gantz has served in two unity governments under Netanyahu and has been criticized for a back-and-forth approach.
After Eisenkot departed from Blue and White, his new Yashar! Party emerged as a leader in the opposition bloc seeking to replace Netanyahu in elections expected to take place no later than October.
Tropper will reportedly consider joining forces with either Eisenkot or former prime minister Naftali Bennett's Together Party, which merged last week with opposition leader Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid.
Following the announcement of Tropper's departure, Eisenkot immediately stated that Tropper was a friend and partner, "one of the finest people that the Knesset of Israel has known."
The Yashar! leader added that he would be very glad to see Tropper continue in public life "in order to bring about change and hope."
Former ministers Matan Kahana and Orit Farkash Hacohen both joined Yashar! after departing from Gantz's party.
Eisenkot began announcing new members to his list last week, and his party stated on Thursday that in the coming weeks it is expected to announce additional senior figures.
Tropper is also considering forming a new party of his own or joining the Reservists Party, according to a Sunday KAN News report.
Reservist Party leader Yoaz Hendel responded to Tropper's departure by praising him. He posted that "there are not many representatives in parliaments around the world who have contributed as much."
Hendel added that Israel "needs as many people as Tropper as possible."
Gantz was said to have held consultations on Sunday with close associates, during which they discussed whether he should step down and forgo the upcoming elections, according to an additional KAN report.
The Blue and White leader denied the report, claiming it was an "absolute lie" in an X/Twitter post.
The party then sent out a clarification message that "Gantz is moving forward to lead the party and work toward establishing a broad Zionist unity government.”