Gantz urges Netanyahu to halt overhaul legislation, fire ‘generator of chaos’ Ben Gvir

Former defense minister and senior opposition MK Benny Gantz slams the coalition for focusing on divisive judicial overhaul plans while Israel is at a critical security juncture.

The National Unity party leader says that “we are on a security powder keg” but the coalition “is ‘concentrating efforts’ on dividing the people and destroying democracy,” in a statement delivered alongside other opposition party leaders at the Knesset.

Gantz, who has long called for cross-Knesset participation instead of unilateral judicial reform, says that the government’s plan to increase political power over the judiciary harms Israel’s ability to defeat terror.

“In order to defeat terrorism, two things must be done: immediately stop the predatory legislation… and create order in the defense establishment,” Gantz says, pointing to confusion over the division of authorities in the Defense Ministry and “generator of chaos” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Addressing comments to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Gantz says that “the experiment failed, and if it continues, it can set the area on fire,” urging the premier to fire Ben Gvir and replace him with “an experienced and responsible figure, such as former Shin Bet director Avi Dichter,” currently Likud’s agriculture minister.

Attacking Netanyahu for prioritizing passing the override clause — which would enable his Haredi partners to evade military conscription and could give Likud influence over laws or judge appointments affecting Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial — Gantz says that “at this time, saving lives from bloodthirsty and brainwashed terrorists, and uniting the entire Israeli public, supersedes the political whims of repealing the conscription law or appointing judges to hear the appeal at your trial.”