New Disagreements Break out between Netanyahu, Gantz

Last May, after three rounds of parliamentary elections without any conclusive results, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in, following the agreement on a coalition government between the Likud parties (under his leadership) and Blue and White, led by Benny Gantz, former Israeli chief-of–staff.

Gantz leads the second political party in Israel which includes a number of reserve senior officers in the Israeli army.

However, despite the two sides reaching understandings, many contentious issues still weigh harshly on the Israeli political scene, threatening the government's continuity amid protests and sharp pisions.

The last disagreement that emerged, between Likud on the one hand, and Blue and White, on the one hand, was the struggle over the eligibility to choose the new attorney general for Israel.

Gantz, who is also the defense minister, revealed that he had authorized the minister of justice to appoint a new General Attorney and the general inspector of police.

Netanyahu says that Gantz's move aims to restore control in the battle against the Corona pandemic, restore governance rules, and achieve organizational stability.

But this was not accepted by the political opponent, as Likud considered it a violation of the coalition agreement, which stipulates the establishment of appointment committees by consensus, including the nomination of the General Attorney.

The position of the attorney general is of great importance to Netanyahu, in light of the crises facing his government, as the new dispute will repeat what happened at the end of 2019, after the Israeli Attorney General, Avichai Mandelblit, indicted Netanyahu on corruption charges, including bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.

At that time, Netanyahu attacked the General Attorney office, saying that the charges against him were "fabricated" and represented a "political coup," affirming that he would remain in power.

Thus, for Netanyahu, the position is extremely sensitive. Given that he is the body in charge of managing his trial, in corruption cases that pursue him, related to bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.

Netanyahu is accusing the judiciary,  police, and the media, for fabricating corruption files in order to overthrow his rule, in favor of the leftist opposition.

Last year, when the mandate of former Attorney General Shai Nitzan came to an end, the justice minister close to Netanyahu, Amir Ohana, refused to extend it, and the opposition described that position as "vengeful," as Nitzan was firmly in favor of Netanyahu's trial.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on the troubled relationship between the Likud and Blue and White parties, indicating that Gantz could not continue on the road to a settlement with Netanyahu, so he announced the appointment of the state's attorney general, to avoid the collapse of his party.

The struggle over the position of the "attorney general" is one of the manifestations of the many disagreements between Netanyahu and Gantz.

According to the coalition agreement between them, Netanyahu will continue to lead the government for a year and a half, then he will give up his position to Gantz in October 2021, but some political circles in Israel doubt whether Netanyahu will give up the premiership by the agreed date.

The Netanyahu government is experiencing its worst situations in the current period, as it is ravaged by crises from all sides, starting with the continuous demonstrations against the impact of the Corona pandemic and its economic and social repercussions, up to the constitutional conflicts.