Monday, June 22, 2020

Netanyahu to Gantz: Apply sovereignty - or we'll call new elections

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met recently with Blue and White chairman MK Benny Gantz to discuss the application of sovereignty to various areas in Judea and Samaria, as part of the "Deal of the Century."
 
Gantz has expressed his opposition to the plan, and conditioned his agreement on various budgets, Israel Hayom reported.
 
However, according to Israel Hayom, Netanyahu emphasized to Gantz that if the move to apply sovereignty does not pass, there will be no unity government, and Israel will hold new elections.
 
It is not clear if the US will demand Gantz's agreement as a condition for sovereignty.
According to the coalition agreement between the two parties, Blue and White does not have the right to veto the application of sovereignty.
 
In January, during his visit to Washington, Gantz said he supported the Deal of the Century and promised to work to implement it following the March 2020 elections.
 
Meanwhile, Shas chairman and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri has said that the current opportunity for sovereignty is "historic" and "must not be missed," but urged that the step only be taken with the agreement of the Blue and White party.