Israel needs to build a coalition of Zionist parties spanning the Right and the Left following the next election, Blue and White chairman and former defense minister Benny Gantz said in a Sunday interview with 103FM.

"Yesterday I paused at a coffee stand in Kibbutz Ruhama. A kind woman approached me in tears and told me she backs me but fears what lies ahead," Gantz recounted.

"She warned her daughter that if Netanyahu stays in charge she would not attend officers' course. I replied that others in the country warn that if Bennett, Gadi Eisenkot or Lapid becomes prime minister she likewise would not attend officers' course."

"The division tearing through the nation is harming us all," he continued. "I am certain that to avoid repeating the same pattern we must create a Zionist unity government, because the Zionist majority truly sustains the country. Let that majority lead. That is my goal, and I hope to achieve it."

The former IDF chief of staff expressed little optimism about the emerging US-Iran agreement.

"The sense is not of outright failure, given strong military and operational results, but rather of a strategic lost chance, since we did not convert those gains into lasting progress against Lebanon on our own and with the Americans on Iran," he said.

"We must ready ourselves to address these issues in the coming years, including through military means, and that appears unavoidable."

Gantz voiced ongoing concerns over Lebanon and the Iran deal

Regarding reports that a ceasefire in Iran would also halt Israeli operations in Lebanon, Gantz stated that Israel must ensure in the next sixty days that Beirut is treated separately from Tehran.

"Arguments exist on both sides concerning Iran, yet Lebanon and Israel share a border, so we cannot rely on others for our security," the Blue and White leader emphasized. "We must avoid security risks and act with full strength and independence. October 7 altered regional realities, and we cannot accept the previous status quo. I conveyed this view to the Biden administration, which resisted operations in Gaza, while Netanyahu failed to persuade them."

When asked if Netanyahu had yielded to Washington, Gantz replied affirmatively.

He added that the prime minister made a mistake by shifting Israel's approach to the United States and favoring Republicans over Democrats.

"We are the sole Western democratic presence in the Middle East. Aligning in one direction left us tied to that side alone, and that reflects Netanyahu's error," he said.

Discussing his debut book titled We

Gantz also reflected on his new role as an author. "This marked my first time attending the book fair as a writer, and it proved a rewarding experience in Jerusalem," he noted with enthusiasm.

"The book draws on writings I produced over the years and talks with my wife Revital. We had long hoped to craft a volume from two perspectives, yet after she became ill I chose to share her story."

Pressed on whether he felt remorse for being absent from home during his military and political career, Gantz acknowledged such feelings are natural.

"I learned to balance three priorities: caring for Revital, supporting my family, and serving my country. I manage this balance as best I can," he said.

Explaining the title We, Gantz noted that it refers not only to himself and Revital but also to his connection with society at large.