Gantz Regrets Joining War Cabinet, Calls Decision a Mistake
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Benny Gantz, a Member of Knesset, expressed regret for joining the Israeli war cabinet, calling it a mistake that allowed extremist voices to remain. He resigned from the cabinet in June 2024 and stated that strategic decisions were being delayed for political reasons.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Benny Gantz regrets joining the war cabinet, calling it a mistake.
- He believes his participation allowed extremist voices to remain in power.
- Gantz resigned from the emergency government in June 2024.
- He cited political considerations hindering strategic decisions as a reason for leaving.
- Gantz warned that the war would be long and refused to promise a quick victory.
Member of Knesset Benny Gantz stated on Tuesday that his decision to join the Israeli government's emergency cabinet during the war was a mistake, expressing regret for it. Speaking on 103fm radio, Gantz explained that by joining, he allowed "extreme voices" to remain in power. He took responsibility for this decision, which he made after the October 7th Hamas attacks.
Gantz had announced his resignation from the emergency government in June 2024, just five days after the initial attack. He recalled that he and his colleagues joined the government despite knowing it was "bad," driven by a sense of shared fate rather than political partnership. He asserted that the situation had changed months after the October disaster, with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies turning national unity into empty rhetoric.
According to Gantz, strategic decisions were being hampered by hesitancy and procrastination for political reasons. He described entering the government as a simple decision, but leaving, with hostages still held by Hamas, residents displaced, and soldiers fighting on the front lines, as complex and agonizing. He maintained that both decisions were made with the good of the State of Israel in mind.
Gantz admitted that their attempts to influence the government's direction behind closed doors had not yielded the desired results. He cautioned that the war would be long, lasting years, and refused to promise an easy or quick victory, stating that Israelis deserve more than empty promises.
