Israel’s centrist War Cabinet Minister, Benny Gantz, has announced his resignation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency government and called for new elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response, Netanyahu released a statement on Sunday saying that “Israel is in an existential war on several fronts. Benny, this is not the time to abandon the campaign”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a televised press conference, Gantz accused Netanyahu of prioritising his political survival over a ceasefire deal that would secure the release of about 100 hostages held in Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Unfortunately, Netanyahu is preventing us from advancing toward the real victory,” said Gantz on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Strategic decisions are met with hesitation due to political considerations.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Echoing increasing public protest against Netanyahu’s government, Gantz called for a new round of elections in the fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He urged Netanyahu to set an agreed date to hold them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Don’t let our people to be torn apart,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gantz’s decision to withdraw his centrist party from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition left it with ultra-orthodox ministers, including Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who advocate for reoccupying the Gaza Strip and expanding Israeli settlements there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gantz’s resignation followed a May ultimatum he issued to the right-wing Prime Minister, demanding that Netanyahu develop a clear post-conflict strategy for Gaza, where Israel has been conducting a fatal assault, and agree to a hostage-ceasefire agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Unfortunately, Netanyahu is preventing us from advancing toward the real victory,” said Gantz on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Strategic decisions are met with hesitation due to political considerations.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Echoing increasing public protest against Netanyahu’s government, Gantz called for a new round of elections in the fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He urged Netanyahu to set an agreed date to hold them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Don’t let our people to be torn apart,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gantz’s decision to withdraw his centrist party from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition left it with ultra-orthodox ministers, including Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who advocate for reoccupying the Gaza Strip and expanding Israeli settlements there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gantz’s resignation followed a May ultimatum he issued to the right-wing Prime Minister, demanding that Netanyahu develop a clear post-conflict strategy for Gaza, where Israel has been conducting a fatal assault, and agree to a hostage-ceasefire agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AGENCIES<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Israel’s centrist War Cabinet Minister, Benny Gantz, has announced his resignation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency government and called for new elections. In response, Netanyahu released a statement on Sunday saying that “Israel is in an existential war on several fronts. Benny, this is not the time to abandon the campaign”. In a televised […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[87],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n