Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz calls for early elections
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Gantz votes during Israel's last elections in November 2022. Photo: Jalaa Marey/AFP via Getty Images
Benny Gantz, a prominent member of Israel's war cabinet, called on Wednesday for early elections to be held in September — before the one-year anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attacks that shook the country.
Why it matters: This is the first time since Oct. 7 that Gantz, a retired army general who currently leads in the polls by a wide margin, has called for early elections.
Driving the news: Gantz, the leader of the moderate National Unity party, joined the emergency government in the fourth day of Israel's war in Gaza.
- In the first few months of the war, Gantz and members of his party had significant influence on government policy, especially the first hostage deal with Hamas in November.
- But over the last two months, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regained confidence after the initial shock of Oct. 7, he has been taking steps to sideline Gantz.
State of play: Gantz's decision to join the emergency government last year boosted his popularity.
- In recent months, polls indicated his party would win more than 35 seats in Israeli Knesset — three times the number of seats it won in the last election.
- The polls showed Gantz beating Netanyahu in favorability, with close to 50% of Israelis saying he was the right person to be the next prime minister. Roughly 35% said the same about Netanyahu.
What they're saying: "In order to maintain our unity, the public needs to know that we are going to ask for its trust again soon and that we don't disregard the Oct. 7 tragedy. This is why we need to agree on a date for an early election during September," Gantz said at a press conference.
- He added that he spoke about the matter earlier Wednesday with Netanyahu and several leaders of other coalition parties.
- Gantz stressed that he would leave the emergency government if he reaches the conclusion that Netanyahu is sabotaging efforts to reach a hostage deal.
The other side: Netanyahu rejected Gantz's call for early elections and said the current government will continue to rule until all war objectives are met.
- "Benny Gantz must stop playing petty politics. Elections now will lead to paralysis and division and will damage the operation in Rafah and the efforts to get a hostage deal," Netanyahu said.
Reality check: Gantz and his party have very little leverage over Netanyahu. Even if they leave the government, the coalition would survive with 64 seats — a majority in the Knesset.
The big picture: Gantz received support Wednesday from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who delivered a stunning speech last month calling for new elections in Israel.
- "When a leading member of Israel's war cabinet calls for early elections and over 70% of the Israeli population agrees according to a major poll, you know it's the right thing to do," Schumer tweeted.
- Gantz had previously criticized Schumer over his anti-Netanyahu speech and said the Senate leader shouldn't intervene in domestic Israeli politics.
