Taking over at Defense Ministry, Gantz vows to advance Trump peace plan and ‘everything it contains’

Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz takes over as defense minister from Naftali Bennett at an official ceremony at the Defense Ministry.

Gantz, a former IDF chief of staff who also has the role of alternate prime minister in the new government, vows to advance US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, but stops short of backing unilateral annexation of parts of the West Bank.

“I’m committed to do everything possible to advance diplomatic agreements and to strive for peace. Peace was and remains an important Zionist desire,” he says. “We’ll maintain our strength to take advantage of regional opportunities in general and to advance the peace plan of the American administration and President Trump [and] everything it contains.”

In his remarks, Bennett implored Gantz not to let up the campaign against Iran’s military presence in Syria.