Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is facing a political ultimatum from his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, and former military chief and rival, Benny Gantz, as his emergency war cabinet teeters on the edge of collapse. The two main partners in running the military campaign have demanded that Netanyahu come up with a decisive strategy for Israel’s offensive in Gaza, accusing him of prioritizing his political survival over national security.
Gallant and Gantz have called on Netanyahu to choose between leaving postwar Gaza under Israeli military control, as his far-right coalition partners desire, or allowing a Palestinian alternative to Hamas to take over with international support. They have also urged him to prioritize national consensus over appeasing hard-line political allies, even as Israeli soldiers continue to be sent into battle.
Gantz set an ultimatum, stating that his National Unity party would quit the government by June 8 if Netanyahu fails to pave a strategic path forward. However, even if Gantz’s party exits the government, Netanyahu’s far-right and religiously ultraconservative coalition would still hold a majority in Parliament, albeit leaving him in a more precarious position with less domestic and international legitimacy.
The demands from Gallant and Gantz come amidst growing pressure in Israel for clear government decisions to secure the release of hostages in Gaza and dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities. However, achieving these goals may prove challenging, as Hamas is demanding an Israeli commitment to end the war as a condition for any hostage deal.
Critics have questioned Gantz’s ultimatum, with some viewing it as too hesitant and calling into question his credentials as a viable alternative to Netanyahu. Despite joining the war cabinet out of a sense of national responsibility, Gantz’s demands for a postwar strategy in Gaza have been criticized for lacking clarity and specificity.
Gallant has challenged Netanyahu to engage in a serious discussion about who or what should replace Hamas in postwar Gaza, while Gantz has called for the hostages to be brought home, Hamas control to end, and the Gaza Strip to be disarmed without outlining a clear plan to achieve these objectives. Additionally, Gantz’s suggestion for a U.S.-European-Arab-Palestinian administration to run civilian affairs in Gaza has diverged from the position of the United States, Israel’s key international ally.
As the political tensions escalate in Israel, the future of Netanyahu’s government hangs in the balance as he grapples with the demands of his coalition partners and the challenges of navigating the ongoing conflict in Gaza.