Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s rival Benny Gantz visits US on “unauthorized” trip

Middle East, News, US March 4, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

A top minister from the Israeli war cabinet and the most prominent rival of the current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gants marked an “unauthorized” trip to the U.S. this week, widening cracks within Israel’s government and mounting tensions between Washington and Israel’s right-wing prime minister.

Benny Gantz, who is a member of the Israeli parliament, a Centrist political leader, and the former Israeli military Chief, met with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and other prominent U.S. officials during his trip to Washington.

Gantz’s meeting with the U.S. leadership and top officials was focused on securing a temporary cease-fire deal to bring in more humanitarian aid into Gaza and for hostages to be released, a White House official said.

“The vice president will reiterate civilian casualties must be reduced,” the official said before the meeting between Benny Gantz and Kamala Harris. The officials added that Harris also plans to express concern for the safety of people in Rafah, and “the importance of creating a hopeful political horizon for the Palestinian people.”

Some sources from the White House reported that Gantz and Harris have “more or less” agreed on the ceasefire conditions and the ball is now in Hamas’s court. The proposal discussed between the two sides seeks a six-week pause in the fighting, as well as the release of some of the hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Israel's Benny Gantz with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan — *^{Israel’s Benny Gantz (left) and U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan meet at the White House in Washington, on May 19, 2022. (Image Credit: Shmulik Almany/GPO)}*

President Biden had expressed hope that a deal could be reached between Israel and Hama, as U.S. officials said they were working to secure a deal by the start of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that will start this year around March 10.

Unauthorized visit

An official from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party said Gantz’s visit to the U.S. was without authorization from the Israeli leader. The official unveiled that Netanyahu had a “tough talk” with Gantz about the trip and told him the country has “just one prime minister.”

Another Israeli official said Gantz had told Netanyahu about his plans to travel to the U.S., which they said were meant to strengthen ties with Washington, bolster support for Israel’s ground campaign, and help free Israeli hostages still in Gaza.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s popularity has plummeted since the conflict with Hamas, as indicated by numerous opinion polls. Many Israelis hold him responsible for Hamas’ cross-border raid in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and around 250 taken hostage. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 30,410 Palestinians, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The U.S. is also facing a lot of challenges in the region due to the decisions taken by Netanyahu’s ultra-nationalist cabinet. Gantz’s more moderate party occasionally serves as a counterbalance to Netanyahu’s far-right allies.

*^{Protestors gather against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu near his residence in Jerusalem on November 4, 2023. (Image Credit: Reuters/Ammar Awad)}*

The United States aims for advancements in establishing a Palestinian state, envisioning a reformed Palestinian leadership overseeing Gaza with a long-term perspective on statehood. However, Netanyahu and his government’s hardliners are against this objective.