Portrait of Yair Lapid
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Yair Lapid on Benny Gantz

Conditional political partner (strong) Position evolved

TL;DR

Yair Lapid has both allied with and sharply criticized Benny Gantz based on his political maneuvering and alignment with or opposition to Netanyahu.

Key Points

  • Lapid called on Gantz to immediately resign from the government, demanding elections be called, in May 2024.

  • He accused Gantz of capitulating to Netanyahu by joining a government after the Blue and White split in March 2020.

  • Lapid and Gantz previously allied and forged a joint party list to challenge Netanyahu ahead of elections in February 2019.

Summary

Yair Lapid's position on Benny Gantz has fluctuated significantly, defined by periods of political collaboration against a common rival and subsequent sharp criticism over perceived political compromises. Initially, Lapid and Gantz forged a joint alliance to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the 2019 elections, successfully merging their party lists to present a unified centrist front. This cooperation resulted in a joint statement on security matters when Lapid was Prime Minister and Gantz was Defense Minister in August 2022, showcasing shared governance responsibilities.

However, the relationship has also featured intense opposition; Lapid famously condemned Gantz for splitting the Blue and White alliance in 2020 to join a government with Netanyahu, accusing him of capitulating to the Prime Minister and betraying voters. More recently, Lapid has pressured Gantz to resign from the war cabinet, demanding he leave the government to force elections rather than support Netanyahu, illustrating a current political alignment based on opposing the sitting Prime Minister.

Key Quotes

“I will not sit in the government under Benjamin Netanyahu, period. I think he is a person who is not worthy of being the prime minister of Israel,” Lapid declared. “Someone who was the prime minister on October 7 cannot be the prime minister anymore.”

“He must announce that he is no longer able to give a hand to the abandonment of hostages, abandonment of the north, and crushing the economy and the middle class,”

Frequently Asked Questions

Yair Lapid currently urges Benny Gantz to resign from the ruling coalition to compel new elections. He supports Gantz's removal from the government to end what Lapid views as harmful policies under the current Prime Minister.

Yes, Lapid's stance has evolved from being a political ally to a sharp critic. They previously merged lists to challenge Netanyahu but later slammed Gantz for joining a government led by the same Prime Minister.

Yair Lapid strongly criticized Benny Gantz when he joined a government with Netanyahu in 2020, accusing him of betraying voters and selling out. Lapid maintained there was no reason to enter that government.