Gantz says he did his best in ‘bad government,’ it is now time for election

Days after exiting the government, Benny Gantz gives interviews to Channels 11, 12 and 13, discussing his exit from the coalition and the future of the ongoing war against Hamas.

Speaking to Channel 12, Gantz accuses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of introducing political considerations “more and more” into decisions about the war as fighting dragged on.

Asked why he is comfortable leaving such decisions now to right-wing firebrands Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, Gantz replies that he has “told Netanyahu and the cabinet what to do, they know what to do.”

He says he joined the government “knowing that it was a bad government” in order to do what he could to contribute, but now a national election is necessary.

As heavy cross-border fire rages in the north, Gantz says that residents must be able to return to their homes by September 1.

In response, the Likud party issues a statement saying it is unfortunate that Gantz “decided to sit in the TV studios instead of sitting in the cabinet which is continuing to do everything it can to return all our hostages and destroy Hamas.”