Gantz: Netanyahu bypassed me, tried to stop push for Palestinian building

• Author: TOVAH LAZAROFF
• Date: 17 January 2021
• Published date: 17 January 2021

In addition, the Prime Minister's Office spoke directly with the Civil Administration of Judea and Samaria in an effort to bypass the defense minister, he said.

"If the prime minister wants to raise objections, he knows my number," said Gantz, who is also the alternative prime minister and head of the Blue and White Party.

Despite his strong words, three projects for Palestinians were removed from the agenda of the Civil Administration's Higher Planning Council, which convened on Sunday to discuss Palestinian building. When queried in the meeting about the issue, participants were told it was seemingly upon "orders from the higher echelon."

"At the start of a Civil Administration meeting this morning on approvals for Palestinian building, officials from the Prime Minister's Office contacted the Civil Administration and asked them to stop the meeting," the Defense Ministry said.

Gantz ignored the PMO and instructed officials to continue with the meeting.

He and Netanyahu have been at odds over authorization for Palestinians building in the West Bank, approvals for settler building and the placement of settler outpost legalization on the government's agenda.

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