Pressure mounts on Netanyahu following resignations
Tensions in Israel mounting on its mercurial Prime Minister to stand down have increased following the country’s indiscriminate killing in Gaza. Pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu grows as he has faced impending threats of the resignation of senior government officials in recent days.
Gantz announced his resignation from the Israeli war cabinet on June 9th following “political consultations” and due to current Netanyahu, Middle East Monitor and agencies reported.
The former chief of staff said that he would depart “with a heavy heart, but with a whole heart.” He added his suggestion that elections should be held in the autumn.
On May 30th, Gantz’s National Union party revealed that they had submitted a bill to dissolve Israeli parliament and hold an early election. “This follows the request of party leader and war cabinet minister Benny Gantz to move forward in broad agreement to an election before October, a year since the massacre,” the party said in a statement.
Though public polls revealed that Netanyahu well surpassed Gantz in popularity.
READ: Israel “ready” to attack Hezbollah amidst ceasefire talks
“I call on Netanyahu: set an agreed election date,” said Gantz. “Don’t let our people be torn apart. We all need to act as one for elections after which we will form a unity government – Zionist, national and stately.”
Gantz blamed Netanyahu for his departure, saying that the Prime Minister “is preventing us from advancing towards true victory, which is the justification for the painful and prolonged cost.”
He also addressed the families of the hostages held in Gaza, saying that while Israel did a lot, it failed to return them all. He noted that he stands behind the guidelines approved by the war cabinet and calls on Netanyahu to move forward with them.
The Israeli war cabinet began its meeting on Sunday evening without his participation, as well as that of Gadi Eisenkot from the State Camp party.
Levantis.me
