Gantz, a key political rival of Netanyahu, cited the prime minister’s lack of a clear plan to achieve victory in Gaza as the reason for his resignation, according to CNN.
Benny Gantz, a prominent member of Israel’s war cabinet, has resigned from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, dealing a significant blow to the prime minister’s administration.
Gantz, a key political rival of Netanyahu, cited the prime minister’s lack of a clear plan to achieve victory in Gaza as the reason for his resignation, according to CNN.
Despite Netanyahu’s calls for unity, Gantz decided to leave the government, stating that he could no longer continue in a government that was not working towards a real victory.
Gantz’s resignation does not immediately endanger Netanyahu’s government, but it does leave the war cabinet without representation from any party other than Netanyahu’s Likud.
The move comes as Netanyahu faces growing pressure from Israel’s Western allies and families of hostages held in Gaza to end the war and bring back the captives.
The US has repeatedly called on Netanyahu to present a tangible post-war plan for Gaza, and President Joe Biden has suggested that Netanyahu may be benefiting from prolonging the conflict.
Gantz’s resignation highlights the growing divisions within Israel’s government over the handling of the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu dismissed Gantz’s ultimatum, warning it would harm Israel’s interests.
In April, Gantz called for early elections in September, citing the need for Israeli society to “renew its contract with its leadership.”
Gantz consistently polls higher than Netanyahu, with a recent Maariv survey showing 42% support for Gantz compared to 34% for Netanyahu.
As a member of the war cabinet, Gantz played a crucial role in decision-making related to the Gaza conflict.
According to Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli diplomat, Gantz joined the government to balance out the far-right and prevent reckless decisions, seeing himself as the “responsible adult” in a dysfunctional government.
However, as the war dragged on with no resolution, Gantz may have realized that staying in the cabinet would harm his popularity. Pinkas noted that the longer Gantz remains in the government, the weaker he becomes, losing support from both right-wingers and centrists.