Netanyahu rival's visit to U.S. highlights cracks within Israel's wartime leadership

[JudyM]

The trip by Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Netanyahu’s wartime Cabinet following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, comes as friction between the U.S. and Netanyahu is rising over how to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and what the postwar plan for the enclave should look like.

An official from Netanyahu’s far-right Likud party said Gantz’s trip was planned without authorization from the Israeli leader. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Netanyahu had a “tough talk” with Gantz and told him the country has “just one prime minister.”

Gantz is scheduled to meet on Monday with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan and on Tuesday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to his National Unity Party. A second Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity said Gantz’s visit is intended to strengthen ties with the U.S., bolster support for Israel’s war and push for the release of Israeli hostages.

https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-03-2024-3193becf71b8e5a533d38be7973795e7

Wondering what may come out of this.

[DLCWIdem]

1. I am wondering too

Any idea what this is about. What I'd Gantz stance on the war? Is he an opponent of Bibi?

[JudyM]

2. Chief rival but they are working together

In the US, Gantz intends to advocate the legitimacy of the military operation in the Gaza Strip, and the promotion of a security arrangement in Lebanon as well as discuss efforts to reach a deal for the release of the hostages, according to his office.

He will also hold talks on preserving US aid to Israel and strengthening the strategic alliance between the two countries.
… A White House official confirmed that Gantz will meet Harris and that the talks are expected to span topics including reducing Palestinian civilian casualties, securing a temporary ceasefire, the release of hostages held in Gaza, and increasing aid to the territory.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-said-fuming-over-upcoming-gantz-trip-to-us-planned-without-his-approval/

Benny Gantz: 'The entire nation of Israel is united in the quest for military victory' https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-789791

Hamas is refusing to provide any info/assurances about the hostages until a cease fire takes place. Israel doesn’t want to proceed with talks till it gets that info.

I don’t follow internal Israeli politics, hopefully another DUer will add more info.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. While not thrilled with direct Israel news like this in this group, it is understandable.

Therefore, I am adding the following:

'A gift to Israel': Liberman calls for elections for first time since October 7

Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Liberman called for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down and for the country to head to an election, in an interview on Sunday on Army Radio.

In recent months, he has opposed an election due to what he argued would be its negative effect on the war effort; his comments on Sunday were the first time he joined his fellow opposition parties in calling for an election.

Liberman attributed his change of opinion to public feuds over the past between Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Minister-without-Portfolio Benny Gantz, all members of the war cabinet.

“When three members of the [war] cabinet act against each other, there is no chance to make any moves, and the slogan ‘together we will win’ is just a slogan,” Liberman said.

more...

Ehud Barak to Foreign Affairs: Israel has a leadership vacuum

Former prime minister Ehud Barak wrote to the Foreign Affairs magazine on Sunday, calling for early elections in Israel to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Barak began his argument by stating that the past four months of war have highlighted two different portrayals of Israel:

"On the one hand, the war has showcased the tactical prowess of the IDF [...] and promoted a sense of solidarity among Israeli citizens [...] On the other hand, the war has revealed the staggering strategic incompetence of the Israeli government and an astonishing leadership vacuum at the top."

Ehud Barak, Foreign Affairs Magazine

He then compared David Ben-Gurion (Israel's first prime minister) and Netanyahu, calling the current Prime Minister "narcissistic, manipulative, [and] shortsighted." Barak then says that while it might seem like Netanyahu has accepted the two-state solution proposals suggested by the US and most recently by Biden's administration. however, on the four occasions in which the solution was raised, Netanyahu has "always torpedoed it," according to Barak.

more...

Unite the Left, topple Netanyahu's government: Yair Golan's two goals

On the morning of October 7, after receiving a call from his sister that Hamas terrorists had begun to invade towns near the Gaza border, Maj.-Gen. (res.) and former Meretz MK Yair Golan launched a heroic one-man rescue mission and drove in and out of the battle zones, rescuing a number of survivors.

Reflecting back on that fateful day, however, Golan remembers one feeling in particular: rage.

“I remember the moment,” Golan said in an interview at an office space he works out of in Tel Aviv. “I was west of Route 232 [near the Gaza border], and when I came back on the road with the third rescued person, I saw a car with a young Israeli woman’s dead body spilling out of it. The feeling that came up was terrible rage, terrible anger.

“Anger not just that we were disgraced as a state; and not just that the army that I care so much about, and served in for 38 years, was disgraced. Mostly terrible anger that I know how much we brought this onto ourselves.

more...

[JudyM]

4. Thanks for adding this.

I was mulling over whether to post and the thought that it was something we would all want to be aware of prevailed. This “war” is so intimately woven with anti-Jewish sentiment and existential issues for Israel, and this group is the only place we gather… What would you suggest about where to draw the lines about posting or discussing these current events?

[slightlv]

5. I think we only have one president...

but that doesn't stop trump from hosting foreign leaders at Mar a Lago, or jetting over to talk to them... although as lazy as he is, he usually demands they come to him!