Key Israeli opposition figures are calling for fresh elections in Israel.
Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, a main political rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has openly called for parliamentary elections in September in a public briefing Wednesday
“In order for us to remain united and succeed in the tasks we’re facing, the public must know that we’ll soon ask once again for them to demonstrate their trust, that we won’t ignore the October 7 catastrophe and what occurred prior to it,” Gantz said.
Gantz said that he has notified the Israeli prime minister of his request, but he refused to say if he will leave the coalition if the government fails to decide on an election date. Gantz has been one of the most vocal opponents of Netanyahu from within the war cabinet.
Netanyahu's party responds: The Likud party urged Gantz to “stop engaging in petty politics” while Israel is at war. "Elections now will inevitably lead to paralysis, division, damage to the fighting in Rafah and fatal damage to the chances of a hostage deal,” the party said in a statement. “The government will continue until all the goals of the war are achieved."
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called for the current government to resign “as early as possible” in response to Gantz’s statement. “The State of Israel can’t wait for six more months until this terrible, dangerous and most failed government in this country’s history leaves. This government should leave as early as possible so we can bring back the hostages, allow the return of evacuated citizens, win over Hamas and ensure that someone’s caring for the Israeli middle class,” Lapid said in a post on X on Wednesday.
Remember: This is not the first time fresh elections have been called for. Another minister Gadi Eisenkot also called for the same earlier this year, saying elections are important “to renew the trust, as currently there is no trust.” There have also been large public protests in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, a significant challenge to the increasingly embattled leadership of Netanyahu.
