Jerusalem (Associated Press) Benny GanzForeign Minister Avraham Kurd, a centrist member of Israel’s three-man war cabinet, announced his resignation on Sunday, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of mismanaging the war and putting his own “political survival” above the country’s security needs.
The move poses no immediate threat to Netanyahu, who still controls a majority coalition in parliament, but it would make him more reliant on far-right allies who oppose the latest U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal and want to push for war.
“Unfortunately, Prime Minister Netanyahu is preventing us from achieving real victory, which justifies the painful and ongoing cost,” Gantz said. He added that Netanyahu was “making empty promises” and that the country needed to move in a different direction with fighting expected to continue for years to come.
The popular former military commander joined Netanyahu’s government in a show of solidarity after the Hamas attacks. His presence also boosted Israel’s credibility with international partners. Gantz has a good working relationship with U.S. officials.
Gantz I said before If Prime Minister Netanyahu leaves government by June 8, New plans for post-war Gaza.
He canceled a news conference scheduled for Saturday night. 4 IsraelisThe hostages were dramatically rescued Earlier in the day, Israel launched an operation to clear Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, its largest such operation since the start of the eight-month war, killing at least 274 Palestinians, including children, according to Gaza health officials.
Gantz called for Israel to hold elections in the autumn and also urged the third member of the war cabinet, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, to “do the right thing” and resign from the government. Gallant has previously said he would resign if Israel chose to reoccupy Gaza. Encouraged the government To plan for a Palestinian authority.
Netanyahu on Saturday urged Gantz not to leave the emergency wartime government.
“Now is the time for unity, not division,” he said, appealing directly to Gantz.
Gantz’s decision to step down was a “symbolic move” fueled by frustration with Netanyahu, said Gideon Rahat, dean of the political science department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and it could lead Netanyahu to rely more on far-right elements of his government, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
“I think the outside world, especially the United States, is not very happy about this because they see Gantz and his party as the more responsible people in this government,” Rahat said.
On Sunday night, Ben Gvir called for Gantz and his small cabinet to join a war cabinet, accusing them of making “dangerous” ideological decisions that had bungled the war effort.
Hamas took about 250 hostages in an Oct. 7 attack, killing about 1,200. About half were released during a week-long ceasefire in November. About 120 hostages remain, and 43 have been declared dead. At least 36,700 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting, according to the United Nations. Health in GazaMinistryIt does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
