Benjamin Netanyahu will face increased pressure to bring the war to an end, and to extend it
Israeli Minister Benny Gantz announced on Sunday that his party would withdraw from Israel’s emergency government. The move is likely to add pressure to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and give greater influence to hardliners within the government.
“Netanyahu prevents us from getting a real victory. This is why we are leaving the government with a heavy heart but a full heart,” Gantz said.
Gantz has expressed his support for the hostage deal backed by President Biden, which would end the war and see the return of Israeli hostages by Hamas.
In his statement, Gantz called Netanyahu’s promise of a total victory over Hamas “empty.” He said Israelis deserve a “real victory” that “puts the release of the hostages above political survival.
He also called for an early election so that “a real unity government will be formed.”
In response to Gantz’s withdrawal, Netanyahu said, “Israel is in an existential war on several fronts… This is not the time to abandon the campaign—this is the time to join forces.”
Gantz is widely seen as a moderate. His departure is likely to increase international pressure on Netanyahu, and also pressure from hardliners within the emergency government, such as Belal Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir. The hardliners will step up their efforts to continue the war in Gaza, as well as to take action against the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Even without the support of Gantz, Netanyahu still holds a 64-seat majority in Israel’s Knesset.
Gantz had been due to announce his departure on Saturday, but postponed due to the operation to rescue Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Shortly before Gantz’s announcement on Sunday, the commander of the Israeli Defense Forces Gaza Division, Brig. General Avi Rosenfeld, announced his resignation. He said that he had failed in his duty to protect Israeli civilians on the border with Gaza. He is the first IDF combat commander to resign as a result of the 7 October attacks.
EXCLUSIVE: Canadian Gov. Attempts To Euthanize Woman Paralyzed By COVID Shots
