Israel's next gov't should unite Zionist parties, Gantz says

Benny Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White party and former defense minister, is calling for a coalition of Zionist parties from across the political spectrum following the upcoming election. He emphasized the need for a "Zionist unity government" to address the significant divisions within Israel, which he described as "killing us."

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If we do not want more of the same, we must form a Zionist unity government, because the Zionist majority in the country is the one truly carrying the wagon. Let it take the right to lead.

Gantz shared an anecdote about a woman at a coffee cart who expressed worry about the country's future, stating her daughter would not attend officer's course if Netanyahu remained in power. He countered this by noting that other political figures also influence such decisions. Gantz believes that a "Zionist majority" in the country is carrying the nation and should be allowed to lead, indicating his efforts to achieve this.

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The rift in the country is killing us

Regarding the international landscape, Gantz expressed pessimism about the reported ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran. He characterized the situation not as a failure of military achievements, which he deemed "very high," but as a "strategic missed opportunity" due to a failure to "strategically realize the major military achievements" independently and with American support in Iran. He stressed the need for Israel to prepare for future challenges, including militarily.

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The feeling is not one of failure, because the military and operational achievements are very high, but of a strategic missed opportunity, because we did not manage, on our own against Lebanon and with the Americans in Iran, to strategically realize the major military achievements.

On the issue of Lebanon, Gantz insisted that Beirut should not be equated with Tehran. He argued that Israel should not be dependent on others regarding its security with Lebanon, a neighboring country. He stated that "October 7 changed the regional and conceptual reality" and that Israel cannot accept the current situation. Gantz also criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu's approach to the U.S., suggesting he erred by favoring Republicans over Democrats and becoming "captive to one direction," which he called Netanyahu's failure.

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we will need to insist in the next 60 days that Beirut is not the same as Tehran.