The head of the opposition “state camp” in Israel, Benny Gantz, said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “playing with fire” on the issue of aggravating relations with the United States.
Commenting on the selection of representatives of the Israeli Knesset Selection Committee for Judges, Gantz said: “Netanyahu is creating a strategic attack on relations with the United States. This is playing with fire at the expense of Israeli security.”
He continued: “Unfortunately, the other members of Netanyahu’s coalition do not seem to be acting responsibly. Our security challenges are among the most serious we know, at all borders, near and far. The situation in the north is sensitive, terrorism is hitting our streets. while Iran is expanding its weapons and capabilities.”
Gantz emphasized by saying, “What we have seen in recent weeks is a prime minister who has decided to tear the State of Israel apart… Hundreds of thousands of people are taking to the streets and Netanyahu is belittling them instead of trying to understand and embrace them.”
“Unfortunately, Netanyahu does not seem to have learned the lessons of the distant or recent past,” he said. “The price of Netanyahu’s strategy for his political survival is to tear people and society apart from within.”
He stressed that “The State of Israel is under the control of extremists such as Ben Gvir and Smotrich.”
Gantz’s statements came after violent clashes between Israeli demonstrators and police protesting against the judicial amendments.
The protests in Israel are backed by the US administration and Washington’s ambassador to Tel Aviv, Tom Nides, which has led to tensions between Netanyahu’s government-led coalition and the administration of US President Joe Biden.
Source: Times of Israel.