Benny Gantz, Benjamin Netanyahu’s great rival, resigns from the unity government

ISRAEL – Benny Gantz issued an ultimatum to Benjamin Netanyahu, which he carried out. The member of the Israeli war cabinet, led by the Prime Minister since the attack perpetrated on October 7 by Hamas, announced this Sunday, June 9, his resignation from the government.

“(Benjamin) Netanyahu is preventing us from moving toward real victory. This is why we are leaving the emergency government today with a heavy heart but without regrets”declared this rival of the Israeli Prime Minister during a solemn speech on television, calling on the leader of the Israeli right party to organize early elections.

Netanyahu calls on Gantz not to ” give up “ the battle

Former head of the Israeli army and former Minister of Defense, then minister without portfolio as part of an expanded government after October 7, Benny Gantz, leader of the National Union party (center), launched the May 18 an ultimatum to the Prime Minister. He had demanded the adoption by the war cabinet of a ” action plan “ on the question of the post-war in the Gaza Strip, otherwise he would see himself “forced to resign from government”setting June 8 as the deadline.

Benjamin Netanyahu urged Benny Gantz this Sunday not to ” give up “ the battle. “Israel is engaged in an existential war on several fronts. Benny, this is not the time to give up the battle, this is the time to join forces”, he declared on X, a few minutes after the resignation of Benny Gantz. Saturday evening, he had already urged him not to resign, in the name of “unity”.

Benny Gantz is the favorite to form a coalition in the event of the fall of the Netanyahu government and early elections. As a result of this resignation, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, leader of the far-right “Jewish Force” party, “required” in the wake of entering the Israeli war cabinet.

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