Netanyahu to Gantz: “I’ll resign, you’ll be PM”
As a last resort, desperate Netanyahu urges Gantz to withdraw from Bennett-Lapid coalition, joining him to form a new government.
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Netanyahu volunteered to formally quit.
In a last-ditch effort to prevent the new Israeli government from being sworn in, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has early conveyed to Security Minister Benny Gantz a plan by which Netanyahu would instantly step down and Gantz could serve as the new Prime Minister for three years.
According to Israeli Channel 12, Netanyahu volunteered to formally quit on Friday morning in order to give Gantz confidence that if Netanyahu withdrew his resignation in the two days before the new coalition vote on Sunday evening, he could still return to the so-called "change bloc”.
The process of forming the new Israeli occupation government was completed on Friday when Yair Lapid of “New Hope “party presented to the “Knesset” the coalition agreements signed.
On Sunday, the “Knesset” will vote to form a government that will include 28 ministers and 6 deputy ministers, in which Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz will occupy the Defense Ministry portfolio.
According to the coalition agreement, Naftali Bennett of “Yamina” would serve as prime minister for two years, and Lapid will serve as foreign minister. After Bennett's term ends, Lapid will take over as prime minister.
In terms of top ministerial positions under the initial coalition arrangements, the Finance Ministry will be held by “Yisrael Beytenu” leader Avigdor Liberman. “New Hope” leader Gideon Sa’ar will be the justice minister, while “Yamina’s” Ayelet Shaked will be the interior minister. Merav Michaeli of “Labor” will be in charge of transportation, while Omer Barlev of the same party would be in charge of public security. Furthermore, Nitzan Horowitz, the leader of the “Meretz” party, will be chosen health minister, while Tamar Zandberg, a fellow party member, will be designated environment minister.
