The former general and War Cabinet minister, Benny Gantzannounced this Sunday his resignation from the Emergency Executive created by the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahuconsidering that this stands in the way of a “true victory.”
“Netanyahu is preventing us from moving towards true victory. For this reason, today we leave the Emergency Government, with a heavy heart, but with all our hearts,” Gantz said in an appearance that should have happened yesterday, but was postponed after the rescue of four hostages from Gaza in an operation with bombings that caused the death of more than 270 Gazans.
Minutes after the announcement, Netanyahu reproached him that it is “time to join forces” and not to abandon due to disagreements over the management of the war in Gaza.
“Israel is in an existential war on several fronts. Benny (Gantz), this is not the time to abandon the campaign, this is the time to join forces,” Netanyahu said on the social network X, in which he recalled that the offensive will continue until victory.
Furthermore, Netanyahu recalled that the doors remain open to “any Zionist party” that wants to collaborate in the defeat of the “enemies and guarantee the security” of the citizens of Israel.
The Minister of National Security, the settler and anti-Arab Itamar Ben Gvir, took advantage of the situation to demand a place in the War Cabinet, until now exclusively composed of Gantz, Netanyahu and the Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, as members with the right to vote.
For his part, the head of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapiddescribed Gantz’s action as “important and correct” and reiterated the need to create a “sensible” government that will lead to the return of security to the citizens of Israel, the return of the kidnapped, the restoration of the economy and position (in the international sphere) of Israel.”
Minister without portfolio in the framework of an expanded government after the attack by the Hamas terrorist group on October 7 in southern Israel, Gantz, head of the National Union party (center), He issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu on May 18.
The former general demanded that the war cabinet adopt an “action plan” on the post-war issue in the Gaza Strip, without which he would be “forced to resign from the government.” He had set June 8 as the deadline.
Gantz appears as a favorite to form a coalition government if Netanyahu’s government falls and early elections are called.
(With information from EFE and AFP)
