Benny Gantz says fourth elections are all but certain

• Date: 06 December 2020
• Published date: 06 December 2020
• Author: JEREMY SHARON
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Speaking on Channel 13, Gantz accused Netanyahu of putting his own interests before those of the country, of excluding Blue and White from governmental processes and of acting as if he was heading a Likud-led coalition rather than a unity government.

"Netanyahu has wasted half a year of public trust. The reason we're heading to elections is because he chose to take us there – when he put his own issues before the interests of the country," said Gantz.

"The country doesn't need elections, but Netanyahu has not advanced anything," he continued, accusing the prime minister of engaging in "manipulation and lies."

Gantz ruled out passing a budget for 2020 alone, as Netanyahu is demanding, instead of passing the 2021 budget at the same time, as was agreed in the coalition deal between Likud and Blue and White.

"Does it sound reasonable to pass a budget for one week?" he asked, in reference to the fact that there is less than a month left of 2020, and the economic demands of 2021 are already pressing.

If a 2021 budget were passed, Netanyahu would no longer be able to avoid the prime ministerial rotation agreement, which is supposed to allow Gantz to take over as premier in November.

In response to Gantz, who made similar comments in a separate interview on Channel 12, the Likud issued a statement saying "Gantz is in a panic because of his position in the polls, and therefore, is giving desperate interviews."

Also on Saturday, Moshe Ya'alon, head of the Telem Party, said he would be taking his faction out of its alliance with Yesh Atid and intends to run as a separate faction.

Ya'alon added that if former IDF chief of...