Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz resigned from the emergency government, evidence of deepening divisions over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s post-conflict plans for Gaza.
During a news conference in Tel Aviv on Sunday announcing his resignation, Gantz said he made the decision with “a heavy heart.”
“Unfortunately, Netanyahu is preventing us from getting closer to true victory, which is the justification for the current painful crisis,” Gantz said.
The retired army general and frequent Netanyahu critic also called on the prime minister to set a date for the elections.
Netanyahu responded with a post on X, formerly Twitter: “Benny, this is not the time to abandon the campaign, this is the time to join forces.”
Last month, Gantz set a deadline of 8 of June for Netanyahu to explain how Israel would achieve its six “strategic objectives,” including ending Hamas rule in Gaza and establishing a multinational civil administration for the territory.
The prime minister dismissed the comments at the time as “worn words” that would mean “defeat for Israel.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid supported Gantz’s decision, which he described as “important and correct” on social networks.
Immediately after the announcement, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demanded a place in the War Cabinet.
Gantz, a retired army general, has been a member of Israel’s key decision-making “War Cabinet,” along with Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Withdrawal from the party
During the press conference, Gantz noted that he is not only personally resigning from the government, but also withdraws the National Unity party that he presides.
This measure will not overthrow the Israeli government, as Netanyahu will still have a comfortable majority of 64 seats in the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, with 120 seats.
However, it reveals the deep political divisions about how the prime minister is conducting the war.
Political rival of Benjamin Netanyahu and former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Gantz’s centrist National Unity party was in opposition until October 11, 2023, when, following the start of the war following the attacks by Hamas on October 7 agreed to form an emergency government with Netanyahu.
National Unit occupies five positions in the emergency government.
Gantz’s influence in the government was widely seen as a counterweight to that of the far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition.
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