“Israel’s” War Cabinet Threatens to Collapse Gov’t

 

Speaking in a televised address on Saturday, Gantz – Netanyahu’s long-time political rival, a retired general whose “National Unity” party joined the PM’s coalition after Hamas’ operation – demanded that the government approve a six-point plan to achieve “strategic goals.”

 

Among these are bringing back the captives, toppling Hamas rule, demilitarizing the Palestinian strip and establishing “an international civilian governance mechanism for Gaza, including American, European, Arab and Palestinian elements” that would not include Hamas and won’t be under the authority of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The plan also calls for normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia.

 

“If you [Netanyahu] put the ‘national’ over personal…you will find in us partners in the struggle,” Gantz declared. “But if you choose the path of fanatics and lead the entire nation to the abyss, we will be forced to quit the government.”

 

Netanyahu hit back by saying that Gantz chose to “issue an ultimatum to the prime minister instead of issuing an ultimatum to Hamas.”

 

The conditions he set “are washed-up words whose meaning is clear: the end of the war and a defeat for ‘Israel’, the abandonment of most of the hostages, leaving Hamas intact and the establishment of a Palestinian state,” the PM’s office said, in a statement cited by media.

 

Gantz made his comments just days after “Israeli” War Minister Yoav Gallant criticized the Netanyahu government’s failure to address the question of a post-war strategy for Gaza.