Netanyahu's office confused, how did Gantz get plane ticket to US?

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
6 Mar 2024 11:41
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Despite restrictions on travel, Benny Gantz somehow met with US officials in Washington pushing the Israeli PM's office into disarray.

Benny Gantz, left, a member of the Israeli war cabinet is welcomed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, for a private meeting at the Capitol in Washington, the United States, on March 5, 2024. (AP)

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is conducting a comprehensive investigation into how war cabinet member Benny Gantz obtained a travel ticket to the United States, despite Netanyahu's orders against it, according to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation.

Netanyahu tried to cancel Benny Gantz's trip to the United States, prompting the Prime Minister's office to open a wide-ranging investigation into how he obtained a travel ticket, according to the Israeli broadcaster.

On the other hand, Gantz's aides explained that he obtained approval to travel to Washington based on permission from Netanyahu's office.

A government within a government

Earlier, Gantz made plans to visit key Western allies, including the United States and the United Kingdom, overriding Netanyahu's position as head of the Israeli government. A fierce confrontation broke out between the two, as authorities took measures to delegitimize Gantz as a representative of "Israel".

Responding to Netanyhu's orders, Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Mike Herzog, did not deal with Gantz's visit to the US and missed the meetings that were held with top officials in the Biden administration. Netanyahu reportedly told Gantz that "Israel has only one prime minister," as the two long-time rivals fight for dominance over the decision-making process in the occupation.

Gantz accepted Netanyahu's government's invitation to form a war cabinet, which would see key decisions pass with impunity after the member of the Israeli opposition joined forces with Netanyahu on October 11, 2023. The former Security Minister's negligence of Netanyahu's demands marks a dangerous precedent for the war cabinet, as the rift between the two politicians grows once again. Accurately described by Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, these developments, which came out of necessity to regain "Israel's" alleged impeccable military and security status, have created "a government within a government."

Marred with internal contradictions and as the war on the Gaza Strip goes into its 151st day, the Israeli occupation's government nears the brink of collapse. This comes at a time when it faces an existential threat imposed by the Palestinian Resistance in the Gaza Strip and the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon who have remained steadfast in their confrontation of the occupying regime.