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A few days ago, Benjamin Netanyahu got publicly rebuked by his Likud ally and defense minister Yoav Gallant over the lack of a plan for “day after” governance in Gaza. Gallant demanded that Netanyahu make a decision on how to put “non-Hamas Palestinian entities” as the IDF destroys Hamas infrastructure, both physical and political. “Indecision is, in essence, a decision,” Gallant argued, that would lead to one of two unsustainable default outcomes: the return of Hamas or another Israeli military occupation of Gaza. Netanyahu responded with an angry rebuttal that more or less accused Gallant of putting the cart before the horse, with Hamas still fighting the IDF across Gaza.
By yesterday, the temperature appeared to have cooled between the two Likud leaders. Today, however, opposition leader Benny Gantz delivered an ultimatum to Netanyahu that echoed Gallant’s criticisms. If Netanyahu doesn’t have a plan by June 8 that addresses the “day after” issue and five more issues, Gantz announced that he would leave the unity government, a move that would almost certainly force elections in Israel:
Gantz listed six objectives that Netanyahu must adopt or face his withdrawal from government:
The return of the hostages,
The demobilization of Hamas and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip,
Determining a governing alternative in the Strip,
The return of the residents of the north by September 1,
Promoting normalization,
Adopting an outline for creating a standardized Israeli national service.
“If you choose to lead the nation to the abyss, we will withdraw from the government, turn to the people, and form a government that can bring about a real victory,” Gantz said in his statement.
This isn’t much different from Gallant’s demands, only perhaps only a bit more detailed. Gantz also praised the way the unity government had worked for “many months” after the October 7 atrocities and had accomplished much.
