Likud Accuses Gantz of ’Fighting the Government’ After Minister Quits

By Staff, Agencies

Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netnyahu's Likud party and War Minister Benny Gantz's Blue and White party traded barbs on Friday, as the resignation of one of Gantz's party members from the ‘Israeli’ government escalated tensions between the two main coalition partners.

Gantz, who also holds the title of alternate prime minister, argued in a statement – without mentioning Netanyahu by name – that his party had joined the coalition to battle the coronavirus, not democracy and the rule of law.

"The attempts to harm the lives of protesters alongside riots against police officers make it necessary for us as a government to restore order," Gantz said, announcing he had instructed Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn to begin the process of appointing a new Prosecutor. He also called to appoint a permanent chief of police.

"Anyone who doesn't like it can set a date for another election," the statement concluded.

Senior positions, according to the coalition deal between Likud and Blue and White, can only be filled once the Zionist entity formally ends its coronavirus emergency, still in effect. Nominations would be decided by a committee comprised of representatives of both major blocs in the coalition.

That committee hasn't convened so far, and Gantz has no authority to nominate any senior position without a green light from Netanyahu, and vice versa, according to their agreement.

Netanyahu's Likud party said in a tweet following Gantz's statement: "Blue and White is part of the government and acts against it. It's time it decides whether it is fighting the disease or fighting the government."

Likud accused Gantz's party of "playing a game of politics on the backs of ‘Israelis’," citing the latest resignation, the attendance of a Blue and White lawmaker at an anti-Netanyahu rally this week and "the breach of the coalition agreement" by calling to fill senior positions.

Earlier on Friday, Tourism Minister Asaf Zamir announced that he had informed Gantz of his resignation, citing lack of trust in the prime minister and his leadership.