Aryeh Deri Reveals Gadi Eizenkot Pressured Benny Gantz to Leave Security Cabinet

Aryeh Deri, chairman of the Shas party, disclosed new details about the departure of Benny Gantz and Gadi Eizenkot from Israel's security cabinet during the early stages of the recent war. Speaking on the show "The Patriots" on Wednesday evening, Deri said that Eizenkot pushed Gantz to exit the cabinet, a move Deri considers a major mistake.

Deri explained that initially he had worked to include both Gantz and Eizenkot in the security cabinet, believing that unity was essential during the severe crisis. However, Eizenkot later changed his stance, advocating for an early ceasefire and a deal with Hamas to secure the release of hostages. This shift led Eizenkot to lead the exit from the cabinet, with Gantz following him. Deri claimed that Gantz now openly regrets leaving the cabinet and that it was wrong to abandon the security decision-making body in the middle of a war.

Deri emphasized that neither former Chief of Staffs should have left during wartime, noting that if their approach had prevailed, threats from Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Hamas, and others would have remained unchecked. Deri's comments came after a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and provide insight into internal disagreements within Israel's leadership during the conflict.