Gantz invited Netanyahu to a briefing without informing the Prime Minister, the opposition leader refused

The Minister of Defense summoned Netanyahu against the background of the emerging agreement with Lebanon, to a meeting where relevant parties will be present.

In Netanyahu's circle, they say that the only one who legally briefs the head of the opposition is the prime minister, and Gantz "has no relevance to the matter. Gantz did not coordinate Netanyahu's invitation with Lapid

Yaki Adamker

08/10/2022

Saturday, October 8, 2022, 9:04 p.m. Updated: 10:29 p.m.

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On video: Netanyahu ran after feeling sick on Yom Kippur.

October 6, 2022 (Netanyahu's PR)

Defense Minister Benny Gantz's office today (Saturday) contacted opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu's office with an invitation to a security briefing in Kirya on the background of the emerging agreement with Lebanon on economic waters. Security officials relevant to the issue will be present at the briefing.

Netanyahu, for his part, does not intend to respond to Gantz's invitation. Those around him say that The only one who briefs the head of the opposition, according to law, is the prime minister and "Ganz has no relevance to the matter".

Gantz did not coordinate or inform Lapid in advance about Netanyahu's invitation to the briefing.

Lapid and Netanyahu meeting regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, August 29, 2022 (photo: official website, Amos Ben Gershom/L.A.M.)

Netanyahu held an update meeting with the Prime Minister for the first time in early August.

Since the establishment of the Bennett-Lapid government, Netanyahu has not attended the legally required update meetings with the Prime Minister, neither with the previous Prime Minister Naftali Bennett nor with the current Prime Minister Lapid, and has agreed to receive security updates only through the military secretary.

A second meeting was held between the two for an update on the Iranian nuclear issue.

At the end of the meeting, Netanyahu discussed Lapid's policy: "I am leaving more worried than when I entered," he said, "We will support any position of public attack against the nuclear agreement, but today I do not see such a position."

More in Walla!

Lapid briefed Netanyahu on the Iranian nuke;

Chairman of the opposition: "I left worried"

To the full article

American mediator Amos Hochstein with Lebanese President Michel Aoun (Photo: Reuters)

Progress in negotiations at the end of the week

A senior official in the American administration told Walla today that there was progress over the weekend in the negotiations on the maritime border. Several drafts and new versions were exchanged in an attempt to reach an agreement on the remaining gaps. During the weekend, several talks were held between the American envoy Amos Hochstein and the deputy speaker of the Lebanese parliament Elias Bo Saev, who is responsible for the contacts with the US regarding the maritime border agreement. Hochstein updated Israel over the weekend regarding his talks with the Lebanese side.

The ministers of the political-security cabinet authorized Lapid, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and the alternate government at the cabinet meeting on Thursday Naftali Bennett to make decisions in the scenario of an escalation on the northern border without having to convene the cabinet once again.

Earlier, the Minister of Defense instructed to prepare for a scenario of escalation in the north.

This, as part of the weekly assessment of the situation with the participation of the Chief of Staff, the Director General of the Ministry of Defense and the head of the Operations Division.

Gantz added that preparations must be made for both offensive and defensive efforts, given the developments in the negotiations on the maritime border.

His words came against the background of Israel's rejection of the comments that Lebanon passed on the draft maritime border agreement.

A senior political official said that the Lebanese comments included "fundamental and new changes" in the wording of the agreement that Israel is not ready to accept.

• 2022 election

Tags

• Lebanon

• Benjamin Netanyahu

• Benny Gantz