In a shocking announcement, War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz has called for a press conference this Saturday to reveal his decision to withdraw from the coalition government. This move comes after a series of tense confrontations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his handling of the ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip, which is set to reach its eighth month this Friday.
Gantz’s official statement from his National Unity party does not provide any reason for the appearance, but Israeli press and political analysts believe that he will withdraw his support for the emergency executive created by Netanyahu shortly after the Hamas attacks on October 7. Before then, Gantz had been on the opposition side but agreed to form a government of national unity with Netanyahu during times of war. He holds a position within the smallest war cabinet with voting rights.
In mid-May, Gantz issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu, demanding that a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip be announced by June 8. However, this deadline has passed without any announcement, leading Gantz to make his decision to leave the cabinet. The departure of Gantz’s party from the emergency government does not immediately threaten the survival of Netanyahu’s coalition.
However, there are other dangers lurking for the government coalition. Far-right parties and ultra-Orthodox formations have threatened to abandon the coalition for different reasons. The departure of Gantz is a symbolic blow to Netanyahu, as Gantz’s political profile was significantly strengthened during the war and he still leads electoral polls. The departure also comes amid ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas in Gaza. Despite these challenges, Netanyahu currently maintains 64 seats in Parliament.
