Gantz: Bennett, Lapid managing relations with US via Twitter

• 

Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz is "upset" about the way the duo that drew up the current government in "Tel Aviv", namely Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, is managing affairs with the United States, Israeli media reported Monday.

The pair, Gantz said, is managing affairs with Washington "publicly." They are "managing strategic affairs with the United States on Twitter."

Commenting on Gantz's assertions, Israeli Channel 13 military affairs commentator Or Heller said, "We are talking about disputes within the authority, and those are not usually public.

Heller explained that the issue goes back to the exceptional joint statement issued Friday by the PM and the Foreign Minister, which he said was an "offensive statement against the United States for its removal of the Islamic Revolution's Guard Corps (IRGC) off its register of foreign 'terrorist' organizations."

Axios had reported that the Biden administration was considering the removal of the IRGC from the US terror blacklist in exchange for a commitment from Tehran to "de-escalate" in the region.

"Gantz refused to sign the joint statement of the two officials, for he did not believe that relations with the United States should be discussed publicly, and ['Tel Aviv'] must not show disputes with [Washington]," Heller added, explaining that this was a lesson learned from what happened between former occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Barack Obama.

Behind closed doors, the Israeli commentator said, Gantz called on the Israelis to be smarter. "Iran rejoices with there being a wedge between Israel and the United States, its most important ally."

"We must ask: is it wise to open a front against the United States only Iran can benefit from?" the Israeli commentator asked.

Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom had published an article slamming "Tel Aviv's" policy toward the United States, criticizing Lapid and Bennett for the "failure."

Israeli Channel 13 previously reported that Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett "stylishly, but sharply" criticized the United States' behavior, adding that Bennett spoke of an "agreement that will pump money to Iran and exacerbate attacks on Israel."