JERUSALEM — JERUSALEM (AP) — Benny GantzA centrist member of Israel’s three-man war cabinet, announced his resignation on Sunday, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of mismanaging the war effort and putting his own “political survival” before the country’s security needs.
The move does not immediately pose a threat to Netanyahu, who still controls a majority coalition in parliament. But the Israeli leader is becoming increasingly dependent on far-right allies who oppose the latest US-backed ceasefire proposal and want to press ahead with the war.
“Unfortunately, Netanyahu is preventing us from achieving a true victory, which is the justification for the painful and continued price tag,” Gantz said. He added that Netanyahu was “making empty promises” and that the country needs to go in a different direction as he expects fighting to continue for years to come.
The popular former military chief joined Netanyahu’s government shortly after the Hamas attack in a show of unity. His presence also boosted Israel’s credibility with its international partners. Gantz has good working relationships with US officials.
Gantz had previously said He would leave the government on June 8 if Netanyahu did not formulate an agreement new plan for postwar Gaza.
He canceled a news conference scheduled for Saturday night after four IsraelisThe hostages were rescued dramatically. from Gaza that same day in the largest such operation carried out by Israel since the eight-month war began. At least 274 Palestinians, including children, were killed in the attack, Gaza health officials said.
Gantz called for Israel to hold elections in the fall and encouraged the third member of the war cabinet, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, to “do the right thing” and also resign from the government. Gallant has previously said that he would resign if Israel decided to reoccupy Gaza, and encouraged the government make plans for a Palestinian administration.
On Saturday, Netanyahu had urged Gantz not to abandon the wartime emergency government.
“This is the time for unity, not division,” he said, in a direct appeal to Gantz.
Gantz’s decision to leave is largely “a symbolic move” because of his frustration with Netanyahu, said Gideon Rahat, chair of the political science department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He noted that he could further increase Netanyahu’s dependence on right-wing extremist members of his government, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
“I think the outside world, especially the United States, is not very happy about this, because they see Gantz and his party as the most responsible people within this government,” Rahat said.
On Sunday night, Ben-Gvir demanded a place in the war cabinet, saying Gantz and the smaller cabinet had bungled the war effort because of “dangerous” ideological decisions.
Hamas took about 250 hostages during the Oct. 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people. About half were freed after a week-long ceasefire in November. About 120 hostages remain and 43 of them have died. At least 36,700 Palestinians have died in the fighting, according to Gaza’s healthMinistrythat does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
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