Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the opposition wing led by the former defense minister Benny Gantz agreed on the creation of an emergency government and national unity.
In a joint statement, Netanyahu and Gantz explained that a special cabinet for war management would be created, of which the two would be members.
O LikudNetanyahu’s party had already indicated on Wednesday that there was an internal agreement with members of her cabinet about the opposition’s entry into the government. Although Israel’s domestic political scene was extremely heated, the Hamas attack ultimately brought unity on how to respond to the aggression.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu; The creation of a war cabinet was crucial in reaching an agreement between the government and the opposition. Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg/AP
The main term for the agreement between the government and the opposition was the formation of a war cabinet, which will include Netanyahu, Gantz and the defense minister. Yoav Gallant.
This was one of Gantz’s main demands to agree to the unity government. The leader of the largest opposition group, former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, will not join the coalition government, but Netanyahu and Gantz said a place had been “reserved” for him in the war cabinet.
The management of the war effort had been an issue in Israel since the Hamas terror attack, but disagreements over what form it should take and who should be included briefly slowed the effort.
Gantz, leader of the opposition National Unity political alliance, has repeatedly called for an end to Netanyahu’s government but said he would consider joining an emergency government led by the prime minister.
Analysts said Israel’s difficulties in cobbling together its policy response to the attacks were largely due to Netanyahu’s delay. The prime minister is facing a corruption trial and widespread opposition to changes to the justice system that critics say undermine the country’s democratic norms. He has little desire to change the composition of the current government that supports him.