From the Liveblog of
Sunday, March 3, 2024
Israeli embassy in US told not to facilitate Gantz’s visit to Washington — report
The Israeli embassy in Washington has been instructed not to facilitate war cabinet minister Benny Gantz’s trip to the US after it was not authorized by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Kan public broadcaster reports.
Additionally, Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog will not take part in the visit, the report says, without clarifying where the order came from.
Netanyahu was reportedly infuriated by Gantz’s decision to travel for meetings with senior US officials without his approval.
A source close to Netanyahu said the premier “made it clear to Minister Gantz that the State of Israel only has one prime minister,” Ynet reported.
The source said the trip was organized contrary to government regulations that require “every minister to clear travel in advance with the prime minister, including approval of the travel plan.”
A former military chief and defense minister, Gantz is Netanyahu’s main political rival in opinion polls. Gantz brought his National Unity party into the government after the October 7 attack by Palestinian terror group Hamas that triggered the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
The Times of Israel Community.