The state camp explained that Benny Gantz's decision to boycott the cabinet meeting stemmed from the fact that it did not deal directly with war matters. An examination of the government's agenda reveals a different picture: a security review, emergency regulations (iron swords), deadlines for dealing with illegal combatants in war, activation of resilience centers in 2024, amendment of the Transportation Ordinance (Iron Swords Temporary Order), the statute of limitations – iron swords, extension of state aid to residents of southern and northern communities in light of an iron sword war, and of course the NIS 9 billion aid program initiated by the Prime Minister's Office, Finance and security for the benefit of reservists and their families. If it's not about war, what is?
Gantz after cabinet storm: "Politically motivated attack, Netanyahu must choose - unity and security or politics"
As Minister Hili Tropper admitted in an interview with Israel's High Court of Justice, the background to the decision to boycott the cabinet meeting was the confrontation that erupted between Netanyahu and Gantz following a cabinet meeting in which ministers of right-wing parties attacked the chief of staff's decision to appoint Shaul Mofaz as chairman of the IDF investigative team for the events of October 7.
But that's not the only story. A source in the official camp confirms that Benny Gantz has recently been acting as if he already has one foot outside the government. He wants to reap the fruits of the unity government but leave quickly without the blame falling on him. He is filling his retirement portfolio now. On the day of an order, the file will be full of excuses and reasons to wave to justify his actions.
"Acting as someone who already has one foot outside the government", Benny Gantz (archive), photo: Eyal-Margolin---Gini
Therefore, he is working to differentiate himself as much as possible from Netanyahu and the ministers of right-wing parties. He frequently attacks and criticizes them, especially when they attack the chief of staff and senior IDF officials, and generally tries to dilute his participation in joint forums with them, including press conferences with the prime minister, and focus solely on war matters, as much as possible.
Ostensibly, opening another war arena in the north will not allow him to retire, but Gantz's political work plan does not mean war in the north anytime soon. Among the members of the War Cabinet, Gantz remains almost the only one who believes that the crisis can be resolved diplomatically, as the Americans believe. Therefore, he was quick to deny reports in the United States that Netanyahu might start a war in Lebanon just to extend his term. Sometimes, in order to reach a diplomatic solution, the tone and the threats must be intensified.
If Gantz decides to resign from the government, chances are that Sa'ar will not come with him. Gantz and Saar, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
When Blue and White and New Hope decided to run together on a joint list, the party leaders established the trio forum – Gantz, Saar and Eisenkot – to coordinate positions and lead joint moves. After all, in the Knesset they operate as one faction. The Trio Forum has not convened for weeks, and probably never will again.
Gantz decided to absent himself from the cabinet meeting without coordinating with Sa'ar or updating him. He also knows that if he decides to quit the government, chances are that Sa'ar will not come with him, should Sa'ar feel that the government is trying to achieve the goals of the war and not "cut" in the midst of it. Gantz and Saar have a different consciousness about the future: Gantz is half a foot outside, Saar is still strong inside - so it is absent and separate, and it is present and active. And there is another difference: for Gantz, the political future looks promising, Sa'ar's is still shrouded in fog.
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