Benny Gantz, Israeli Minister, Steps Down from Defense Cabinet – One America News Network
OAN’s James Meyers
8:54 AM – Monday, June 10, 2024
Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz has resigned from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, after Israel celebrated the rescue of four hostages on Saturday.
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“Netanyahu prevents us from moving forward to a real victory [in Gaza],” Gantz said in a televised statement Sunday in which he described leaving the government as a “complex and painful” decision.
“That is why we are leaving the emergency government today with a heavy heart, but with a whole heart,” he said.
“The situation in the country and in the decision-making room has changed.”
Additionally, Gantz accused Netanyahu of putting his own personal political considerations ahead of a post-war strategy for the Gaza Strip, claiming that “fateful strategic decisions are met with hesitancy and procrastination due to political considerations,” and urged the prime minister to hold an election in the coming months.
“I call on Netanyahu: set an agreed election date. Do not let our people be torn apart,” Gantz said.
Gantz’ comments also come after he gave Netanyahu an ultimatum last month to come up with a new plan for the war against the terrorist organization by June 8th.
Additionally, Gantz was expected to resign on Saturday, but postponed the announcement following the news that Israeli forces rescued four hostages in an operation Gazan officials said left over 270 Palestinians dead.
Netanyahu responded to Gantz’ comments, saying this is the time for unity, not division.
“Benny, this is not the time to abandon the campaign – this is the time to join forces,” Netanyahu said to Gantz in a post on X.
“Citizens of Israel, we will continue until victory and all the goals of the war have been achieved, most importantly, the release of all our hostages and the elimination of Hamas,” Netanyahu said.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has stated that his door remains open to any political party who is ready to help in the fight against Hamas, and will “help bring victory over our enemies and ensure the security of our citizens.”
With Gantz’ resignation, Netanyahu will now rely more on members of his own government party, which leaves President Joe Biden’s war proposal hanging on by a thread.
Bezalel Smotrich, finance minister and chairman of the Zionist Party, said on X last week that he would “not be part of a government that agrees to the proposed outline and ends the war without destroying Hamas.”
Itamar Ben-Gvir, national security minister and leader of the Jewish Power Party, called Biden’s proposal “a victory for terrorism” that would mean “absolute defeat,” and threatened on X “to dissolve the government” should Netanyahu agree to the proposal.
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