Formerly in opposition, Benny Gantz agreed to join Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of national unity during times of war. As a member of the war cabinet, he holds one of the three voting positions alongside the prime minister and the Defense Minister. However, disagreements over the handling of the offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing for eight months, have led Gantz to withdraw from Netanyahu’s coalition government.
Gantz had set a deadline for Netanyahu to present a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip, which has not been met. His departure may not immediately threaten Netanyahu’s coalition government but is widely seen as a symbolic blow to the prime minister. The far-right and ultra-Orthodox factions within the coalition government also pose significant challenges. These parties have threatened to leave the coalition over issues such as ceasefire agreements with Hamas and military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox individuals. The survival of Netanyahu’s government may depend on maintaining support from these factions.
