Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s participation in a massive demonstration in Tel Aviv opposing the government and criticizing its handling of the Israeli prisoners file in Gaza has raised numerous questions regarding the cohesion of the Israeli government, 100 days after the war launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip.
Gantz’s involvement in today’s opposition rally comes after his joining of the emergency government, formed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following October 7th, provided a significant boost to the Tel Aviv administration according to observers, especially since he was previously one of Netanyahu’s leading critics.
However, reports have revealed that the subsequent 100 days witnessed the eruption of severe disagreements and conflicts within the emergency government and the war council. Gantz’s participation in the demonstration seemed concurrent and consistent with news of disputes inside the war council, where Netanyahu prevented the office director of the Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant from attending the Friday session, angering Gallant and leading him to accuse Netanyahu of interfering with his work. This prompted him to withdraw from the session for an hour before returning later, a move observers considered unprecedented, particularly in wartime.
Al Jazeera’s report by Walid Al-Attar noted that press reports spoke of a verbal clash that occurred a week earlier between Minister Gallant and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, which was met with Transport Minister Miri Regev’s scathing sarcasm, as she pulled out a popcorn bag, saying, “The show has started.”
Meanwhile, observers and media discuss the severe criticism the Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi faced from extreme right-wing ministers due to the establishment of a committee to investigate the events of October 7th morning.
The disputes and the lack of clear vision are centered around the issue of prisoners and post-war affairs. This topic alone has sparked more than one war council session and has prevented their convening, as per observers. Statements that have become increasingly noticeable, accompanied by accusations against Netanyahu suggesting they are of his own making and raising the question, “Why does he allow the undermining of his army leaders in wartime?”
According to political analysts, there’s a widespread belief that Netanyahu is managing this war with personal political motives. Not only do his opponents accuse him of failing to achieve any of its objectives, but also of becoming beholden to the demands of extreme right-wing ministers, whom he ensures their loyalty at any cost to prevent the collapse of the government, which, as opinion polls suggest, is experiencing a decline in popularity.
