Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has resigned from the emergency government, indicating growing rifts over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s Gaza strategy post-conflict.
At a press conference in Tel Aviv on Sunday, Mr. Gantz announced his resignation, expressing his decision with a “heavy heart.”
“Unfortunately, Mr. Netanyahu is preventing us from approaching true victory, which is the justification for the painful ongoing crisis,” he said.
Considered by some to be a potential challenger for power in Israel, Mr. Gantz called on Mr Netanyahu to set a date for elections.
Mr Netanyahu responded with a post on X: “Benny, this is not the time to quit the campaign; this is the time to join forces.”
Benny Gantz, a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is a political rival of Benjamin Netanyahu. Until October 11, 2023, his centrist National Unity party remained in opposition.
However, in response to the conflict sparked by Hamas’s attacks on October 7, 2023, Gantz joined forces with Netanyahu to establish an emergency government.
Within this coalition, National Unity occupies five ministerial positions.
Following Mr. Gantz’s announcement, opposition leader Yair Lapid expressed support for his decision, deeming it “important and appropriate” via social media.
However, shortly after the declaration, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a member of the far-right coalition, insisted on inclusion in the war cabinet.
Ben-Gvir’s faction has issued threats of resigning and destabilising the government should Israel entertain a ceasefire proposal from US President Joe Biden.
Gantz’s role within the administration was widely perceived as a check against the influence of far-right elements within Netanyahu’s coalition.
Last month, Mr Gantz set a deadline of June 8 for Mr Netanyahu to lay out how Israel would achieve its six “strategic goals,” including the end of Hamas rule in Gaza and the establishment of a multinational civilian administration for the territory.
The prime minister dismissed the comments at the time as “washed-up words” that would mean “defeat for Israel.”
A retired army general and frequent critic of Mr Netayanhu, Mr Gantz had been a member of Israel’s key decision-making “war cabinet,” along with the prime minister and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, held a press conference at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv.
This followed the formation of a three-person war cabinet after the October 7 attacks.
During the conference, Mr. Gantz announced his personal resignation from the government and his withdrawal from the National Unity party that he chairs.
While this move does not threaten the Israeli government’s stability, as Mr. Netanyahu still holds a comfortable majority of 64 in the 120-seat Knesset, it underscores the deep political divisions regarding the handling of the war.
The timing of the resignation, one day before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s three-day trip to the region, adds to the significance of the move. Blinken plans to visit Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar to push for a ceasefire agreement.
In another development, Israel’s army announced the resignation of Brigadier General Avi Rosenfeld, who headed the IDF’s Gaza division.
He cited his failure to prevent the October 7 attacks as the reason for his resignation, making him the first IDF combat commander to step down since the attacks.