Benny Gantz

Benjamin Gantz (Hebrew: בִּנְיָמִין "בֵּנִי" גַּנְץ, Transliterated: Binyāmīn "Bēnī" Ganṣ; born 9 June 1959) is an Israeli politician and retired army general serving as the minister of Defense since 2020 and deputy prime minister of Israel since 2021. He previously served as the alternate prime minister of Israel from 2020 to 2021.

Benny Gantz
Gantz in 2019
1st Alternate Prime Minister of Israel
In office
17 May 2020 – 13 June 2021
PresidentReuven Rivlin
Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byYair Lapid
Ministerial roles
2020–Minister of Defense
2021Minister of Justice
2021–Deputy Prime Minister
Faction represented in the Knesset
2019–Blue and White
Military roles
2011–2015Chief of the General Staff
Other roles
2020Speaker of the Knesset
Personal details
Born
Benjamin Gantz

(1959-06-09) 9 June 1959
Kfar Ahim, Israel
Political partyBlue and White (2019–present)
SpouseRevital
Children4
Alma materTel Aviv University
University of Haifa
National Defense University
Military service
Allegiance Israel
Branch/service Israel Defense Forces
Years of service1977–2015
RankRav Aluf
UnitParatroopers Brigade
Commands
  • 890 "Efe" (Echis) Airborne Battalion (1987–1989)
  • Shaldag Unit (1989–1992)
  • Reserve Paratroopers Brigade (1992–1994)
  • Judea Regional Brigade (1994–1995)
  • Paratroopers Brigade (1995–1997)
  • "Etgar" Division (1998–1999)
  • Lebanon Liaison Unit (1999–2000)
  • Northern Corps (2001), Judea and Samaria Division (2000–2002)
  • Northern Command (2002–2005)
  • Ground Forces Command (2005–2007)
  • Military Attaché in the United States (2007–2009)
  • Deputy Chief of General Staff (2009–2010)
  • Chief of the General Staff (2011–2015)[1]
Battles/wars
AwardsCommander of the Legion of Merit (United States)

He served as the 20th chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from 2011 to 2015.[1][2] In December 2018, he entered politics by establishing a new political party named Israel Resilience.[3][4] The party later allied itself with Telem and Yesh Atid to form Blue and White (Hebrew: Kaḥol Lavan), the colours of the Israeli national flag.[5] Gantz's Blue and White alliance platform includes introducing prime ministerial term limits, barring indicted politicians from serving in the Knesset, amending the nation-state law to include Israeli minorities, limiting the power of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel over marriages, investing in early education, expanding health care, and re-entering negotiations with the Palestinian Authority for a peace agreement.[6]

Gantz was the 17th Speaker of the Knesset from 26 March 2020[7] to 17 May 2020.[8][9][10] On 20 April 2020, Gantz agreed to join a rotation government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Under the terms of the agreement, Gantz would serve as Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, before succeeding Netanyahu as Prime Minister of Israel in November 2021.[11][12] However, the coalition collapsed, resulting in another election in 2021. As defense minister, Gantz was in charge of Operation Guardian of the Walls in Gaza. In June 2021, he was reappointed Defense Minister and became Deputy Prime Minister.

Biography

Benjamin Gantz was born in Kfar Ahim, Israel, in 1959. His mother Malka was a Holocaust survivor, originally from Mezőkovácsháza, Hungary.[13][14] His father Nahum came from Sovata, Székely Land, Romania, and was arrested by the British authorities for trying to enter Palestine illegally, before reaching Israel. His parents were among the founders of Moshav Kfar Ahim, a cooperative agricultural community in south-central Israel.[15] In his youth, he attended the Shafir High School in Merkaz Shapira, and boarding school at the HaKfar HaYarok youth village in Ramat HaSharon.

Gantz is a graduate of the IDF Command and Staff College and the National Security College. He holds a bachelor's degree in history from Tel Aviv University, a master's degree in political science from the University of Haifa, and an additional master's degree in National Resources Management from the National Defense University in the United States.[16] Gantz is married to Revital, with whom he has four children. He lives in Rosh HaAyin.[17]

In February 2011, following the government decision to promote Gantz to Chief of the General Staff, Attorney Avi'ad Vissuli of the Forum for the Land of Israel unsuccessfully petitioned to revoke the appointment.[18][19]

In February 2019, an Israeli-American woman accused Gantz of exposing himself to her 40 years earlier, causing her traumatic disorders.[20] Gantz denied all allegations, claiming that such an incident never took place, and that the allegations were politically motivated.[21] Gantz has since sued the woman for defamation.[22]

Military career

Gantz was drafted into the IDF in 1977. He volunteered as a paratrooper in the Paratroopers Brigade. His first mission as a young conscript in 1977 was as part of the security detail for Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's visit to Israel.[23] As a paratrooper, he fought in Operation Litani in March 1978 and also participated in a June 1978 raid against a Fatah training base in Lebanon. In 1979, Gantz became an officer after completing Officer Candidate School. He returned to the Paratroopers Brigade and served as a platoon leader and company commander, completed a course in the U.S. Army Special Forces, and fought in the First Lebanon War.[24]

Later on, he led 890 "Efe" (Echis) paratroop battalion in counter-guerrilla operations in the South Lebanon security zone.[25] In 1991, he commanded the commando unit that was on the ground in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for 36 hours, securing the Operation Solomon airlift of 14,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel.[23] He served in senior command positions during the Second Intifada and Second Lebanon War.

In the course of his military career, Gantz served as commander of the Shaldag Unit in the Israeli Air Force; commander of the 35th Paratroopers Brigade;[26] commander of the Reserves Division in the Northern Command; commander of the Lebanon Liaison Unit; commander of the Judea and Samaria Division in 2000, before becoming the commander of the Israeli Northern Command in 2001; and as Israel's military attaché in the United States from 2005 until 2009, before becoming the deputy chief of the General Staff.[16][27]

Chief of staff
Gantz as Chief of General Staff

Following the canceled appointment of previous nominee Aluf Yoav Galant, Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced on 5 February 2011 that he would be recommending to the government that Gantz be appointed the 20th Chief of the General Staff (after the pending approval by the Turkel Advisory Committee on Senior Appointments and a government vote).[28] Gantz had already been in the process of an honorable discharge from his army service.

On 13 February 2011, the Israeli government unanimously approved Gantz to be the next IDF chief of staff.[29] According to The Jerusalem Post, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem that Gantz was an "excellent officer and experienced commander, and had rich operational and logistical experience, with all the attributes needed to be a successful army commander".[30]

On 14 February 2011, Gantz returned to the IDF and assumed command as the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces.[2] He served for the required three years and was nominated for a fourth year, which he agreed to fulfill, followed by retirement.

Gantz in fire practice area, Golan Heights, 2012

In his first year as Chief of the General Staff, Gantz appointed the IDF's first-ever female major-general, Orna Barbivai.[31][32] In July 2011, Gantz appointed a special committee to address a controversy that had developed concerning mention of the word Elohim, "God", in the military Yizkor prayer. The committee determined that a disputed passage should read Yizkor 'Am Yisrael, "May the Nation of Israel remember", and not Yizkor Elohim, "May God remember". Gantz upheld the committee's ruling.[33]

Gantz commanded the IDF when it fought against Palestinian factions in Gaza in the campaigns Operation Pillar of Defense[34] and Operation Protective Edge.

Benny Gantz (right) meets with General Martin Dempsey (left), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Army, 2012
Benny Gantz conducting a surprise visit to training bases as Chief of Staff, 2011

Business career

Gantz was the chairman of the Fifth Dimension, a computer security and law enforcement technology company, which specialized in tracking via smartphone spyware.[35] The company closed due to financial reasons, after its Russian investor Viktor Vekselberg was sanctioned under CAATSA by the United States during the Special Counsel investigation into Russian attempts to interfere with the US election, led by Robert Mueller.[36][37]

Political career

Early career

In December 2018, Gantz announced the formation of a new political party, but did not originally disclose his views or name of the organization.[38] Polls demonstrated fluctuating support for the party.[39][40] On 27 December 2018, Gantz formally established the Israel Resilience Party ("Hosen LeYisrael" in Hebrew), with the intention of running in the upcoming April 2019 election.[41] In his first major political speech on 29 January 2019, Gantz pledged to strengthen Israeli settlement blocs in the West Bank and said that Israel would never leave the Golan Heights.[42] He neither endorsed nor rejected a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. "The Jordan Valley will be our border, but we won't let millions of Palestinians living beyond the fence to endanger our identity as a Jewish state," he said.[42] In addition, Gantz helped formulate a unilateral separation plan for the Institute for National Security Studies calling for the unilateral creation of a contiguous Palestinian "entity" on 65% of the West Bank and a freeze on construction in settlements outside the major settlement blocs expected to be retained in a future peace agreement in order to stave off the perceived threat of a one-state solution, which the plan termed as being an existential threat to Israel, along with a nuclear Iran.[43]

On 17 February 2019, at the Munich Security Conference, Gantz enumerated the main challenges of the West as "extremist Iran, Islamic terror, and regional instability".[44] Gantz criticized Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to bar U.S. Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from entering Israel, saying that Omar and Tlaib would have seen that the West Bank is "the second best place" for Arabs in the Middle East.[45] In December 2021, Gantz described the Islamic Republic of Iran as "the biggest threat to the global and regional peace and stability".[46]

Gantz negotiated with leader of the Yesh Atid party Yair Lapid, leader of the Telem party Moshe Ya'alon, and former Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, as well as with Orly Levy's Gesher. and reached an agreement with these parties, with the exception of Gesher, to form a political alliance and run jointly. the alliance, named Blue and White, was formally announced on 21 February 2019. with Gantz and Lapid agreeing to rotate the position of Prime Minister with one another if elected.[47]

Government Formation Attempts

In the April election, the alliance won 35 seats, tying for first place with Netanyahu's Likud, but winning a smaller share of the popular vote.[48] following the election, Gantz conceded defeat,[49] and Netanyahu received the opportunity to form a government for President Reuven Rivlin, who gave Netanyahu until 29 May to form a governing coalition.[50] Netanyahu was unable to do so, and the mandate to form a government returned to Rivlin. before he could grant the mandate to another individual, potentially Gantz,[51] Netanyahu successfully pushed to dissolve the Knesset on 30 May, leading to new elections in September.[52]

President Reuven Rivlin tasking Gantz with the formation of a government, October 2019

Blue and White won 33 seats in the September election, one more than the Likud's 32 seats.[53] Rivlin met with representatives of all elected parties on 22 and 23 September to receive recommendations on whom to allow to form a government.[54] Gantz received recommendations from Labor-Gesher,[55] the Democratic Union[56] and the Joint List.[57] the number of Knesset Seats held by all parties that endorsed Gantz was greater than that of those who endorsed Netanyahu. However, on 23 September, members of the Balad party requested that their recommendation of Gantz, given automatically by their membership in the Joint List, be rescinded.[58] following this, Netanyahu had more recommendations and was chosen by Rivlin to form a government on 25 September,[59] on the condition that he not dissolve the Knesset should he fail to form a government.[60] Netanyahu failed to form a government, and returned the mandate to Rivlin, who gave it to Gantz on 23 October.[61] Gantz failed to form a government, and the mandate passed collectively to the Knesset, who failed to form a government, and dissolved on 12 December, triggering a third election in March of 2020.[62] on 19 December, Gantz and Lapid's planned rotation agreement was scrapped, with Gantz becoming Blue and White's sole candidate for Prime Minister.[63]

The March election resulted in the loss of Blue and White's parliamentary plurality, with the party winning 33 seats to the Likud's 36.[64] On 15 March, Gantz received recommendations from parties that held a combined 61 seats,[65] and was again given a mandate by Rivlin the next day.[66] Before the election, Gantz vowed to form a government that would not include Netanyahu.[67] Initially an attempt was made to form a minority government with external support from the Joint List, however this initiative promptly collapsed as Members of the Knesset from Gantz's Party, Yoaz Hendel and Zvi Hauser announced they would vote against such a government, citing an electoral promise not to lean on the Joint List. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, Gantz reversed his stance and announced he was willing to support an emergency coalition with Netanyahu.[68]

On 26 March, Gantz was elected Speaker of the Knesset by a margin of 74–18, following the resignation of Yuli Edelstein. His nomination was supported by the Likud and members of Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, which put the future of the Blue and White alliance in jeopardy.[69][70] On 29 March, Yesh Atid and Telem left Blue and White and formed a separate faction in the Knesset.[71]

On 20 April, Gantz and Netanyahu announced that an agreement on a unity government had been reached. The deal would involve both parties sharing power, with Gantz and Netanyahu rotating the position of Prime Minister. Under the terms of the agreement, Netanyahu remained as prime minister, with Gantz serving as Alternate Prime Minister, and the two set to exchange roles in October of 2021.[72] On 7 May, Netanyahu won the support of 72 Members of the Knesset to form a government, with Rivlin giving Netanyahu a two-week mandate to form a government shortly after.[73] The parties who gave their support included Blue and White, Likud, Gesher, Shas and United Torah Judaism, two of the three members of the Labor Party, and Derekh Eretz, formed by Hauser and Hendel.[74] Gantz resigned as speaker of the Knesset on 12 May as part of the coalition agreement,[75] and the new government was sworn in on 17 May, with Gantz being sworn in as Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.[76][77]

Alternate Prime Minister

In November of 2020, Gantz formed a military committee to investigate Case 3000, a corruption case involving the purchase of submarines.[78] the committee's members resigned in late December due to restrictions placed on the investigation by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who was running a parallel investigation.[79] Gantz established a second committee in May of 2021 to investigate the treatment of Veterans, after a former soldier of the IDF lit himself on fire in an act of protest.[80]

Despite agreeing to take part in a Netanyahu-led coalition government in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,[81] Gantz would again express opposition to Netanyahu's annexation plans. On 29 June 2020, Gantz said the Israeli Prime Minister should instead put the COVID-19 pandemic first.[82] on December 23rd, shortly after the expiration of a budgetary deadline, Gantz and Netanyahu's unity government collapsed. triggering new elections in March of 2021.[83]

Following the resignation of Avi Nissenkorn as the Minister of Justice on 30 December,[84] Gantz became the acting Minister of Justice until 1 April 2021, at which point the position became vacant.[85][86] Netanyahu nominated Member of the Knesset Ofir Akunis for the position in a cabinet meeting on 27 April 2021. Akunis won a majority in a vote held by the cabinet, but was not confirmed to the position as the vote was rulled illegal by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and the Israeli Supreme Court. as it was not part of the meeting's pre-written agenda.[87][88] Gantz was subsequently approved as Minister of Justice by the cabinet in a legal vote on 28 April.[89]

Gantz visiting an Aerial Defense Battery during Operation Guardian of the Walls, May 2021

In May 2021, as Defense Minister, Gantz presided over Operation Guardian of the Walls, a military operation conducted in the Gaza Strip. During the operation, Israel conducted around 1,500 aerial, land, and sea strikes within the territory.[90] the operation began on 10 May,[91] and ended on 21 May due to a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the Egyptian government.[92]

2021 election campaign and government formation

Following the collapse of the Blue and White's alliance with Telem and Yesh Atid, the party often polled at a single digit number of seats, narrowly surpassing, or falling beneath, the electoral threshold.[93][94][95] in addition, several members of the party, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi, Minister of Justice Avi Nissenkorn,[96] Minister of Science, Technology and Space, Yizhar Shai, and Members of the Knesset Ram Shefa,[97] Einav Kabla,[98] and Hila Vazan[99] either retired from politics or defected to another party, while Members of the Knesset Miki Haimovich and Asaf Zamir were removed from the party list by Gantz after voting against a bill meant to delay the dissolution of the Knesset.[100] in the last days of the election, Gantz ran a Gevald campaign, arguing that Blue and White falling beneath the electoral threshold would harm Israeli democracy.[101]

Blue and White won 8 seats in the 2021 election,[102] exceeding the number of seats the party was projected to win in most polls.[103][104][105] on 5 April, Rivlin met with representatives of all elected parties.[106] Blue and White recommended Lapid for Prime Minister,[107] but Netanyahu received a larger number of recommendations, and was given a mandate by Rivlin.[108] Netanyahu failed to form a government, and his mandate expired on 4 May.[109] the next day, Rivlin gave Lapid the mandate to form a government,[110] who entered negotiations with Naftali Bennett to form a unity government,[111] in which Lapid and Bennett would rotate the position of Prime Minister.[112] Lapid and Bennett formed a government with Ra'am, Meretz, the Labor Party, New Hope, Yisrael Beiteinu and Blue and White.[113] Lapid became the Alternate Prime Minister, and Gideon Sa'ar replaced Gantz as Justice Minister. Gantz remained the Defense Minister and became a Deputy Prime Minister.[114][85] the new government was sworn in on 13 June.[115]

Deputy Prime Minister

In October of 2021, Gantz announced that six Palestinian human rights organizations would be designated as terrorist organizations.[116] The Ministry of Defense claimed that the groups are connected to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and that funding is being funneled from the groups to the PFLP.[117] As of April 2022, Israel has not publicly released any evidence of such a link.[118][119]

In November of 2021, Gantz became the first Israeli Minister of Defense to visit Morocco, where he signed an agreement for security cooperation with the Moroccan government.[120][121] he similarly signed a defense memorandum with the Government of Bahrain.[122]

On 30 May 2022, following violence and racist remarks against Palestinians in the annual Dance of Flags, Gantz called for La Familia and Lehava to be designated as terrorist organizations.[123]

Awards and decorations
First Lebanon War Ribbon
Second Lebanon War Ribbon
Operation Protective Edge Ribbon
Security Zone in Lebanon Ribbon
Commander of the Legion of Merit

References
  1. "Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz Appointed 20th IDF Chief of the General Staff". Israel Defense Forces. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  2. Haaretz Service (14 February 2011). "Gantz takes over as IDF chief: I am ready to face the challenges". Haaretz. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  3. Moran Azulay (27 December 2018). "Benny Gantz registers new political party". Ynetnews.
  4. Wootliff, Raoul. "Surrounded by idioms: How campaign slogans get lost in English translation". timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  5. Staff writer. "United Gantz-Lapid party to be called 'Blue and White'; no women in top 6". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  6. Wootliff, Raoul (6 March 2019). "Blue and White releases its political platform: 'No second disengagement'". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  7. "Gantz appointed Knesset speaker". Arutz Sheva. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  8. Staff writer (12 May 2020). "Likud's Yariv Levin tapped as Knesset speaker in new government as Gantz resigns". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  9. Hoffman, Gil; Sharon, Jeremy (14 May 2020). "Likud rebellion delays Knesset swearing-in". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  10. Staff writer (15 May 2020). "PM appoints Katz finance minister, 'right man' to lead Israel out of crisis". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  11. Halbfinger, David M.; Kershner, Isabel (20 April 2020). "Netanyahu's Power Is Extended as Rival Accepts Israel Unity Government". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  12. Hoffman, Gil (17 May 2020). "New Israeli government finally under way". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  13. Aderet, Ofer (8 April 2013). "Israel commemorates Holocaust Remembrance Day". Haaretz.
  14. Winer, Stuart; Shmulovich, Michael (8 April 2013). "In Auschwitz, Israeli army chief vows to prevent a 'second Holocaust'". The Times of Israel.
  15. "גנץ ונתניהו נפגשו והתחברו למקורות ולשורשים". ערוץ 7.
  16. "New deputy chief of the General Staff Appointed" (Press release). IDF Spokesperson's Website. 12 July 2009. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  17. "Benny Gantz, Netanyahu Rival, Gives Campaign Launch Speech – Full English Transcript". Haaretz. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  18. Sharvit, Noam (7 February 2011). פנייה ליועץ: פסול מינוי גנץ בשל עבירות בנייה [Petition to the Attorney General: Revoke Gantz's Appointment in Light of Building Violations] (in Hebrew). NRG (Ma'ariv). Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  19. Tzuk, Dana (7 February 2011). המטה למען א"י נגד האלוף גנץ [The Forum for the Land of Israel V. Major General Gantz] (in Hebrew). GLZ (Army Radio). Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  20. "Gantz accused of sexual harassment by Israeli woman living in US". Ynetnews. 28 February 2019.
  21. "Gantz rejects sexual misconduct allegations, 'This is a blood libel' – Israel News". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  22. "Benny Gantz files libel suit against woman who accused him of sexual harassment when they were teens". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
  23. Pfeffer, Anshel (28 January 2019). "The General Coming to End the Netanyahu Era". Haaretz. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  24. Gal Perl Finkel, "When good commander doesn't equal a good politician", The Jerusalem Post, Mars 7, 2019.
  25. Gal Perl Finkel, "Importance of IDF Ground Forces in new army appointments", The Jerusalem Post, 21 February 2019.
  26. Avihai Becker, Generally Sensitive, Haaretz, 24 April 2002.
  27. "IDF chief announces new appointments to General Staff" from Haaretz Google cache version
  28. Greenberg, Hanan (5 February 2011). "Gantz set to be named 20th IDF chief". Ynet. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  29. Ravid, Barak (13 February 2011). "Benny Gatz becomes IDF's 20th chief of staff". Haaretz. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  30. Keinon, Herb (13 February 2011). "Gantz appointment as IDF chief sails through cabinet". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  31. "Newly Appointed Head of the Personnel Directorate, GOC Northern Command, GOC Home Front Command". IDF Spokesperson's Unit. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011. Brig. Gen. Orna Barbivay will be promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed Head of the Personnel Directorate, replacing Maj. Gen. Avi Zamir, who will end his service in the IDF.
  32. "Israeli military appoints first female major general". Monsters and Critics. Tel Aviv. Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 26 May 2011. Archived from the original on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has promoted the first female major general in its 63-year history, a military spokesman announced Thursday night.
  33. Katz, Yaakov (4 August 2011). "IDF panel keeps God out of Yizkor prayer". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 August 2011. The IDF will retain the original wording of the Yizkor memorial prayer with 'Yizkor Am Yisrael' (May the People of Israel Remember), and not 'Yizkor Elohim' (May God Remember), a military committee tasked with ruling on the issue announced on Thursday.
  34. Yossi Arazi and Gal Perl Finkel, "Integrating Technologies to Protect the Home Front against Ballistic Threats and Cruise Missiles", Military and Strategic Affairs, Volume 5, No. 3, December 2013.
  35. "NSO in talks to buy Israeli intelligence co Fifth Dimension". Globes. 11 November 2018.
  36. Hoffman, Gil. (16 December 2018). "Did Stormy Daniels cause Benny Gantz's Cyber Company to close shop?" Jerusalem Post website Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  37. "Israeli Startup Headed by Ex-top Security Officials Shuts Due to Link With Sanctioned Oligarch". Haaretz. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  38. Asa-El, Amotz. (22 December 2018). "The other Benjamin-Will Israeli politics be saved by one-more general?". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  39. Mualem, Mazal (21 November 2018). "Former IDF head spooks Israel's entire political spectrum". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  40. Hoffman, Gil. (25 December 2018). "Poll finds Gantz's political party in free fall". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  41. "Former IDF chief names new party: 'Israel's Resilience'". WIN. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  42. "Breaking political silence, Gantz indicates he won't serve under indicted PM". Times of Israel. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  43. Gross, Judah Ari. "Proposal would split Israel from Palestinians – but don't call it a peace plan". Times of Israel. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  44. "Gantz in Munich speech: 'No daylight' with Netanyahu on Iran". Times of Israel. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  45. "Gantz: Tlaib, Omar Would Have Seen West Bank Is 'Second Best Place' for Mideast Arabs". Haaretz. 10 September 2019.
  46. "U.S. and Israel ramp up pressure on Iran as diplomacy stalls". Reuters. 9 December 2021.
  47. קרני, יובל (21 February 2019). "גנץ ולפיד הודיעו על איחוד ורוטציה, אשכנזי מצטרף". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  48. "תוצאות האמת של הבחירות לכנסת ה-21". gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  49. Liebermann, Oren (10 April 2019). "Netanyahu set for fifth term as Israel's leader as rival concedes defeat". CNN. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  50. Heller, Jeffrey (13 May 2019). "Israel's Netanyahu gets two-week extension to form government". Reuters.
  51. "Bill to dissolve Knesset, call elections on September 17 approved in 1st reading". The Times of Israel. 28 May 2019.
  52. Pileggi, Tamar; Wootliff, Raoul (30 May 2019). "Knesset votes for new elections on September 17 after PM fails to form coalition". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  53. "September 2019 election". Israel Democracy Institute (in Hebrew). Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  54. "Rivlin to begin consultations Sunday on tasking next prime minister". The Times of Israel. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  55. "LIVEBLOG: Netanyahu, Gantz to meet Israeli president again on Wednesday". i24 News. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  56. Lahav Harkov (24 September 2019). "Balad votes won't count for Gantz, putting Netanyahu in lead". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  57. "Netanyahu expected to have first crack at forming Israeli government". i24 News. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  58. Holmes, Oliver (23 September 2019). "Boost for Netanyahu as three Arab politicians refuse to back rival". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  59. "Israel elections: President Rivlin to tap incumbent Netanyahu to form govt". i24 News. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  60. Wootliff, Raoul (25 September 2019). "Back to square one: New elections loom after Rivlin's unity bid falls short". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  61. Wootliff, Raoul (23 October 2019). "Charged with forming coalition, Gantz asks Netanyahu to join, vows to heal rifts". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  62. "Israel calls another election for March 2, the third in a year". The Times of Israel. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  63. קרני, מורן אזולאי ויובל (9 December 2019). "לפיד מוותר על הרוטציה: "כולנו מאחורי בני גנץ"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  64. "Result of elections to the 23rd Knesset". Central Elections Committee for the 23rd Knesset (in Hebrew). Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  65. Wootliff, Raoul (15 March 2020). "Rivlin to task Gantz with forming government after he receives 61 endorsements". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  66. Hoffman, Gil (16 March 2020). "Rivlin gives Gantz mandate to form government". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  67. "Israel's Gantz vows to form government without Netanyahu". Politico. Associated Press. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  68. Wootliff, Raoul (22 March 2020). "Gantz: Unity government needed now, I'm waiting for Netanyahu to okay talks". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  69. "Blue & White in turmoil as Gantz stands for Knesset speaker with right-wing support". Ynetnews. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  70. Hoffman, Gil (2 April 2020). "Blue and White splits as unity deal with Likud approaches". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  71. Wootliff, Raoul (29 March 2020). "Knesset panel okays breakup of Blue and White; Gantz keeps name". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  72. Hoffman, Gil (21 April 2020). "The deal is done: Netanyahu, Gantz ink coalition pact". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  73. "Netanyahu gets nod from Rivlin to form government, seemingly cementing rule". The Times of Israel. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  74. Rina Bassist (9 May 2020). "Netanyahu's future coalition, without the settlers?". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  75. קרני, יובל (12 May 2020). "לקראת הקמת הממשלה: גנץ התפטר מתפקידו כיו"ר הכנסת, לוין יחליפו". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  76. "Israel's parliament swears in new unity government with PM Netanyahu at helm". France 24. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  77. "Israel's Biggest Gov't Ever Takes Oath: The Complete List of Ministers". Haaretz. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  78. "N12 - כפי שפורסם במהדורה: גנץ מקים ועדת בדיקה לפרשת הצוללות". N12. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  79. "חברי ועדת הבדיקה לעניין הצוללות הודיעו על התפטרותם - בגלל המגבלות שהטיל היועמ"ש על עבודתם". Kan 11 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  80. זיתון, יואב (13 April 2021). "משרד הביטחון יקים ועדת בדיקה לאחר שנכה צה"ל הצית עצמו: "אירוע מטלטל וקשה ביותר"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  81. Pita, Natan Sachs and Adrianna (21 April 2020). "What does the Gantz-Netanyahu coalition government mean for Israel?".
  82. Beaumont, Peter; Scammell, Rosie (29 June 2020). "Netanyahu's annexation plan in disarray as Gantz calls for delay". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  83. Wootliff, Raoul. "Israel calls 4th election in 2 years as Netanyahu-Gantz coalition collapses". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  84. זקן, דני (30 December 2020). "אבי ניסנקורן התפטר מתפקיד שר המשפטים". Globes. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  85. "חבר הכנסת בני גנץ" [Member of the Knesset Benny Gantz]. Knesset (in Hebrew). Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  86. "בכירים לשעבר במערכת המשפט על אי מינוי שר משפטים: "נקודת שפל"". www.maariv.co.il. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  87. "סוער בממשלה: השרים הצביעו בעד, מנדלבליט: "אקוניס לא שר המשפטים"". JDN news (in Hebrew). 27 April 2021.
  88. Lis, Jonathan; Bandel, Netael (27 April 2021). "Top Court Freezes 'Illegal' Appointment of Netanyahu's Pick for Justice Minister". Haaretz. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  89. "Cabinet appoints Gantz as justice minister after U-turn by Netanyahu". The Times of Israel. 28 April 2021.
  90. 'Flash Update #02: Situation in the occupied Palestinian territory,' Archived 24 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine OCHA 24 May 2021
  91. Wrobel, Sharon (10 May 2021). "Hamas Fires Rocket Barrage at Jerusalem as IDF Green Lights Gaza Strikes". The Algemeiner. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  92. "Israel-Gaza ceasefire holds despite Jerusalem clash". BBC News. 21 May 2021. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021.
  93. "N12 - גנץ קרוב לאחוז החסימה | סקר בחירות נכון ל-22.12.20". N12. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  94. "N12 - רון חולדאי עם 8 מנדטים | סקר בחירות נכון ל-30.12.20". N12. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  95. "יום לסגירת הרשימות: גוש הימין על 59, כחול לבן לא עוברת את אחוז החסימה - וואלה! בחירות 2021". וואלה! (in Hebrew). 3 February 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  96. "N12 - גבי אשכנזי הודיע שהוא פורש מכחול לבן". N12. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  97. "כחול לבן מתפרקת: השר יזהר שי הודיע לגנץ על עזיבת המפלגה". Kan 11 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  98. "אבי ניסנקורן מצטרף לחולדאי; גנץ: "מצופה שיתפטר ממשרד המשפטים"". גלובס (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  99. "תקווה חדשה בהנהגת גדעון סער לראשות הממשלה". Israel Elections Committee (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  100. אזולאי, מורן (27 December 2020). "חיימוביץ' וזמיר הודחו, גם אשכנזי בדרך החוצה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  101. "קמפיין הגעוואלד: אלה המפלגות שהצליחו לגייס תומכים רגע לפני ההצבעה בקלפי". www.maariv.co.il. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  102. "ועדת הבחירות המרכזית לכנסת ה-24 | תוצאות ארציות". votes24.bechirot.gov.il. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  103. ביין-לובוביץ', ענת (24 March 2021). "כסף והרבה: כך נראה הקמפיין שחילץ את גנץ מאחוז החסימה | פרשנות". Globes. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  104. "קריצה למצביעי העבודה והתמקדות ביושרה של גנץ: מה הוביל להצלחת כחול לבן". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  105. "החליפי: בני שב משדה הקרב // מאת שרה ליבוביץ־דר". מגזין ליברל (in Hebrew). 14 April 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  106. "Netanyahu secures most nominations for PM; Rivlin to tap candidate Tuesday". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  107. Hoffman, Gil. "Netanyahu gets most support after Lapid, Bennett fail to close deal". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  108. Hoffman, Gil. "Shas leader demands term as prime minister". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  109. Lis, Jonathan; Khoury, Jack. "As Netanyahu's Coalition Deadline Expires, Lapid Seen Likely to Get the Nod". Haaretz. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  110. "Netanyahu lashes out at Bennett after Lapid gets mandate to form government". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  111. אזולאי, מורן (5 May 2021). "לפיד ובנט במרוץ נגד הזמן: לקראת מו"מ אינטנסיבי להרכבת ממשלה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  112. "Lapid says he made offer to Bennett to be PM first in rotation". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  113. "ממשלת השינוי הורכבה: כל מפלגות הקואליציה חתמו על ההסכמים". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  114. דרוקמן, ירון (13 June 2021). "ממשלת בנט-לפיד יוצאת לדרך: הכירו את כל השרים". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  115. ynet, כתבי (13 June 2021). "על חודו של קול: ממשלת בנט-לפיד אושרה בכנסת". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  116. זקן, דני (22 October 2021). "גנץ הכריז על 6 ארגונים של החזית העממית כארגוני טרור". Globes. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  117. "גנץ הכריז על 6 ארגוני חברה אזרחית בגדה ארגוני טרור; ארה"ב דורשת הבהרות". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  118. "'A blatant attempt to outlaw and eliminate our work'". Mondoweiss. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  119. "Counterterrorism Off the Rails: Israel's Declaration of Palestinian Human Rights Groups as "Terrorist" Organizations". Just Security. 24 October 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  120. "Morocco, Israel sign first-ever defence agreement in Rabat". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  121. "גנץ חתם על הסכם לשיתוף פעולה ביטחוני בין ישראל למרוקו". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  122. "הותר לפרסום: שר הביטחון בני גנץ נחת במנאמה בירת בחריין". מקור ראשון (in Hebrew). 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  123. אזולאי, מורן; אייכנר, איתמר; חלבי, עינב; תורג'מן, מאיר (30 May 2022). "גנץ אחרי ההתפרעויות במצעד הדגלים: "לבחון את הגדרת לה פמיליה ולהב"ה כארגוני טרור"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2 June 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.