Blue and White top brass deny infighting over deal to prevent elections

Blue and White’s top three lawmakers, party chair Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, and Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn, release a statement denying internal rifts over whether to accept a Likud demand that could prevent new elections.

An unsourced report by the Haaretz daily early claimed that Gantz had agreed to curb Nissenkorn’s powers in exchange for closing a loophole in the coalition agreement between Likud and Blue and White that currently allows Netanyahu to remain prime minister if elections are called due to a failure to pass the budget. The report said there was opposition to the move within Blue and White, including from its No. 2 Ashkenazi, and that it was unclear whether the deal could be approved by the party.

Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn seen during a visit at the Jerusalem Municipality on November 10, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

“The media discourse is false and does not reflect the way things are run in Blue and White. Internal warring is reserved for other parties. Our party works together to achieve its goals,” the joint statement says.

“We will not compromise on a functioning government, while also protecting democracy and the rule of law, and ensuring a state budget to address the economic pandemic. Any other unsubstantiated reports or spins being published are at the reporter’s discretion and sole responsibility.”