News in Brief

Israeli war cabinet minister proposes bill to dissolve parliament

Benjamin Netanyahu's government is showing signs of fracturing, with war cabinet minister Benny Gantz proposing to dissolve parliament over a push for a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip.

A man in a suit and tie speaking in a hallway.

Benny Gantz has emerged as Benjamin Netanyahu's main political rival since 7 October. Source: AAP / J. Scott Applewhite

Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz's centrist party has proposed a bill to dissolve parliament, after he threatened to quit unless there is agreement on a day-after plan for the Gaza war.

The bigger picture: The development shows growing strains in Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Gantz has emerged as Netanyahu's main political rival since 7 October, with recent opinion polls showing he would receive the most votes should a snap election be held.

The key quote: "Netanyahu, it's not too late to come to your senses — either together we are victorious or you continue alone with the method of 'divide and rule'." - Gantz's National Unity party in a statement.
What else to know: Gantz joined Netanyahu's government shortly after the 7 October attack. He has helped manage the Israeli offensive in Gaza, but strains have grown as the war dragged on.

What happens now: Gantz's party is unlikely to garner the votes needed for the measure to pass. The party has just eight parliamentary seats out of 120 and Netanyahu's original coalition controls a comfortable majority with 64 seats.

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Published 31 May 2024 7:33am
Source: AAP, Reuters


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