Then-defense minister Benny Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a consultation during Hamas rocket fire at Israel and IDF counterstrikes, May 11, 2021. (Amos Ben Gershom / GPO / File)
Published June 9, 2024
PM issues public plea after National Unity party chief calls off announcement of anticipated departure from emergency coalition; Gantz to reassess before deciding on next steps
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday evening issued a plea for war cabinet minister Benny Gantz to set aside his plans to bolt the emergency government, as the war cabinet minister was widely expected to do so before the successful rescue of four living hostages from Gaza.
“This is the time for unity and not for division,” the premier wrote on X. “We must stay unified among ourselves in the face of the big tasks ahead of us. I call on Benny Gantz — don’t leave the emergency government. Don’t give up on unity.”
In a statement issued minutes later, Gantz responded that “alongside the justified joy in the achievement, we must remember that all the challenges Israel faces have remained as they were. Therefore, I tell the prime minister and the entire leadership — today, too, we must consider responsibly how it is best and possible to continue from here.”
Earlier in the day, Gantz canceled a news conference planned for the evening, during which he was expected to announce his National Unity party was leaving the government.
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SOURCE: www.timesofisrael.com
RELATED: Israel’s Gantz Cancels Expected Press Conference Announcing Departure From Netanyahu Government
Gantz postponed his announcement following the successful rescue of four Israeli hostages, but is expected to pick a new date for it in the coming days
Minister Benny Gantz, earlier this week.Credit: Noam Revkin-Fenton
Published June 9, 2024
Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz postponed a press conference on Saturday that had been scheduled for later in the day, in which he was widely expected to announce his resignation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency wartime government.
The postponement came hours after the successful rescue from Gaza of four Israeli hostages – Noa Argamani, Almog Meir, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv – was announced.
Hours after Gantz cancelled the press conference planned for Saturday, Netanyahu called on Gantz not to resign from the emergency gov’t: “We must remain united within ourselves in the face of the great tasks before us.”
Gantz then issued a response to the PM, saying: “Beside the justified joy of the achievement, it should be remembered that all the challenges that Israel faces remain as they were. Therefore, I say to the prime minister and the entire leadership – even today we must look responsibly at how’s right and how we can continue from here.”
