In a surprising turn of events, Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz has called for new elections to be held in September. Gantz believes that this would increase Israel’s international support and reduce societal divisions.
Gantz made his announcement at a press conference on Wednesday, stating that a new election would be beneficial for the country. Despite his demands, Gantz did not initially suggest any consequences if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not comply. He also did not threaten to leave the war cabinet if his demands were not met.
According to surveys, Gantz’s National Union party, a center-right faction, would be the strongest in a new election, with Netanyahu’s Likud party experiencing a decline in popularity. However, the official date for the next parliamentary election in Israel is currently set for October 2026 and Netanyahu’s Likud party rejected Gantz’s calls for new elections.
Opposition leader Jair Lapid has called for an early election to replace the current government sooner in order to secure the release of hostages and accused Netanyahu’s leadership of lacking serious interest in their release. Many Israelis also criticize Netanyahu for not taking personal responsibility for the Gaza massacre that occurred in early October.
As a former general and opposition politician, Gantz joined the war cabinet shortly after the Gaza war began, playing a moderating role in important military decisions. Observers believe that Gantz’s involvement may lead to more balanced decision-making within the cabinet.
