Former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via REUTERS/File photo
On Saturday, Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to commit to a clear and agreed-upon vision for the Gaza conflict, including a plan for post-war governance of the territory. Gantz, speaking at a press conference, urged the war cabinet to establish a six-point plan by June 8. He warned that failure to meet his expectations would result in his centrist party withdrawing from Netanyahu’s broadened emergency coalition.
Gantz, a retired senior Israeli general and Netanyahu’s most formidable political rival according to opinion polls, did not specify a date for a potential withdrawal. However, his ultimatum could exacerbate tensions within the already strained wartime government. Within the inner war cabinet, only Netanyahu, Gantz, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have voting rights. On Wednesday, Gallant also called for a clear post-war strategy and for Netanyahu to reject any military reoccupation of Gaza. Such a stance by the Prime Minister could provoke ultra-nationalist coalition parties advocating for Gaza’s annexation and settlement, potentially leading to Netanyahu’s political downfall. Before the war, Netanyahu had struggled to form a coalition with more centrist partners due to his ongoing trial on corruption charges, which he denies.
Gantz criticized the influence of personal and political considerations on Israel’s national security, stating, “A small minority has seized the bridge of the Israeli ship and is piloting it toward the rocky shoal.” His proposed six-point plan includes establishing a temporary U.S.-European-Arab-Palestinian civil administration for Gaza while maintaining Israeli security control. Additionally, the plan calls for equitable national service for all Israelis, including ultra-Orthodox Jews, who are currently exempt from the military draft. This exemption is staunchly defended by two parties within Netanyahu’s coalition.
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