Netanyahu preventing victory over Hamas, Gantz says as he exits coalition
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Benny Gantz speaks during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on Dec. 9, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Israeli minister Benny Gantz announced in a speech on Sunday his party's withdrawal from the emergency government formed after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.
Why it matters: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, which still holds a 64-member majority in the Knesset, won't fall apart but it will likely be destabilized. Gantz's exit is also likely to exacerbate the political crisis in Israel as the war in Gaza continues and as hostage and ceasefire negotiations are ongoing.
- Gantz, who was a member of Netanyahu's war cabinet for eight months, is seen by the Biden administration and many other Western and Arab governments as a moderate. His departure is likely to increase U.S. and international pressure on Netanyahu.
- With Gantz's withdrawal, Netanyahu's government will be dominated even more by the ultranationalist ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who will likely increase pressure on the prime minister to take an even more hardline approach to the war in Gaza, take steps against the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and escalate attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Driving the news: In his speech on Sunday, Gantz called for early elections to take place this fall and said he is ready to agree with Netanyahu on a date.
- He called on party leaders to unite behind him in in pushing for early elections, after which "a real unity government will be formed," he said.
- Gantz and the two other members of the cabinet from his party sent resignation letters to Netanyahu. The resignations will go into effect in 48 hours.
Gantz said Netanyahu's promise for total victory against Hamas was empty and that Israelis deserve "a real victory" that "puts the release of the hostages above political survival."
- "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.
- He said he supports the hostage deal proposal the war cabinet approved and President Biden is urging Hamas and Israel to accept. "I demand Netanyahu to stand clearly behind it and do everything in order to make it happen," Gantz said.
- Gantz also called for a national commission of inquiry into Oct. 7 to be formed as soon as possible.
In a statement after Gantz's speech, Netanyahu said "Israel is in an existential war on several fronts" and "this is not the time to abandon the campaign — this is the time to join forces."
The intrigue: Gantz was supposed to announce his departure on Saturday but postponed it due to the operation to rescue four Israeli hostages who were held by Hamas in Gaza.
- Gantz knew in advance about the operation but told his staff not to change the plans for the announcement until the operation was over in order not to risk raising suspicion among Hamas commanders.
- On Saturday night, Netanyahu issued a statement calling on Gantz to stay in the government, but Gantz's aides made clear there was no change in plans other than a temporary postponement.
- On Sunday, shortly before Gantz's statement, Netanyahu announced he is convening a meeting of the war cabinet and a meeting of the security cabinet for Sunday evening. Gantz and other cabinet members from his party said they won't attend.
State of play: Shortly before Gantz's statement, the commander of the Israel Defense Forces Gaza division, Brig. General Avi Rosenfeld, announced his resignation.
- He is the first IDF combat commander to resign since Oct. 7.
- In his letter of resignation, he wrote that he failed in his mission to protect the Israeli civilians in the towns and villages along the border with Gaza.
What to watch: Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive in Israel tomorrow and meet with Gantz, Netanyahu and other Israeli officials.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with details throughout.
