Gantz's party submits bill to dissolve Israeli Knesset
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party responds by saying the dissolution of the government is a "reward" for Hamas Gaza leader Yahya al-Sinwar.
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Benny Gantz speaks at the announcement of former IOF chief Gadi Eisenkot's election bid in Ramat Gan, on Aug. 14, 2022. (AP)
The party of Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz said Thursday it had submitted a bill to dissolve parliament and hold an early election.
"The head of the National Union Party, Pnina Tamano-Shata, has put forward a bill to dissolve the 25th Knesset. This follows the request of party leader Minister Benny Gantz to move forward in broad agreement to an election before October," the party said in a statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party responded to the bill by saying that "the dissolution of the unity government is a reward for (Hamas Gaza leader Yahya) Sinwar, a capitulation to international pressure and a fatal blow to efforts" to retrieve Israeli captives held by the Palestinian Resistance in the Gaza Strip.
It is noteworthy that the Likud party leads a coalition bloc of 64 members in the 120-member Knesset, without Gantz’s party, which joined the coalition after October 7, and therefore, the bill is unlikely to topple the coalition.
Tensions have been rising between Gantz and Netanyahu since the former joined the government after October 7.
On April 3, Gantz called for early elections by September over growing dissatisfaction with the Israeli military's failure in achieving its plans from the war it waged against the Gaza Strip, especially retrieving the captives.
An election is not scheduled before the final quarter of 2026, and the Likud has previously warned that holding one earlier would harm the Israeli military's war on Gaza.
On May 18, Gantz threatened to resign from the War Cabinet unless Netanyahu approves a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip.
He affirmed that "the war cabinet must formulate and approve by June 8 an action plan that will lead to the realisation of six strategic goals of national importance.. (or) we will be forced to resign from the government."
He mentioned that the six goals included "eliminating Hamas, ensuring Israeli security control over the Gaza Strip, and returning Israeli captives" held by the Palestinian Resistance.
"Along with maintaining Israeli security control, establish an American, European, Arab and Palestinian administration that will manage civilian affairs in the Gaza Strip and lay the foundation for a future alternative that is not Hamas or (Mahmud) Abbas," Gantz explained, referring to the Palestinian President.
He also urged the normalization of ties with Saudi Arabia "as part of an overall move that will create an alliance" against Iran and its supporters.
Read more: Ben-Gvir to Gantz: You are a 'smalltime leader, bigtime deceiver'
