From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Netanyahu, Gantz agree to form emergency unity government
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
An agreement is reached to bring Benny Gantz’s opposition National Unity party into an emergency government amid the war with Hamas in Gaza following days of negotiations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gantz announced in a joint statement.
A small war cabinet to direct the war with Hamas will be created, as demanded by Gantz, which will include just Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Gantz.
Former IDF general National Unity MK Gadi Eisenkot together with Minister Ron Dermer will serve as observers in the war cabinet.
For the duration of the war, five members of the National Unity party will be added to the broader security cabinet which operates under every government — Gantz, Eisenkot, MK Gideon Sa’ar and two others yet to be determined.
A position in the war cabinet has been left open for Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, who has refused to join the government if the far-right Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit parties remain in it.
No legislation in Knesset or government resolutions will be advanced during the war that are not related to managing the war, it was agreed.
