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What’s going to happen in Israeli politics now Gantz has quit the coalition

The trust has gone in the war cabinet

June 10, 2024 08:15
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The war cabinet member recently visited Washington DC to discuss Israel's Gaza war (Photo: Getty Images)
2 min read

It wasn't a question of if but a question of when. Already in the first week of the war, people close to the National Unity Party of Benny Gantz briefed me: "We know that Netanyahu will lie to us, we know he will try and take credit for the good things, and blame us for the bad stuff, but we still believe this is the right thing to do – and join Netanyahu's right-wing coalition in an act of unity".

What's surprising, though, is the fact that Gantz is leaving the government when there seems to be no hostage deal in sight – and major decision regarding the "day after" scenario in Gaza will have to be made and the crucial question of rather Israel should go to an all-out war in Lebanon seems to be reaching the point when a decision will have to be made.

Also, the negotiations for a hostage deal, which caused endless debates between Gantz and Netanyahu has reached the point that the new outline-proposal sent to Hamas has been agreed upon by all sides of the war cabinet, and is seen by all of then as the last, and maximum, proposal, which Israel can offer Hamas. So, why now?

It's all about the trust. Not that Gantz and Netanyahu were the two most trusted friends in the world, especially when you look at their unity government during the Covid-19 crises, but Gantz decided to give Netanyahu a second chance because of the war.