Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has joined forces with his main political foe to form an emergency government as Israel responds to Saturday’s invasion by Hamas fighters from Gaza that has left more than 1,200 dead and 2,700 wounded.
On Wednesday, Mr. Netanyahu of the ruling Likud Party and Benny Gantz of the National Unity Party met at Israeli Defense Forces headquarters in Tel Aviv on Wednesday to discuss the plans for a temporary detente between the rival organizations, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Mr. Gantz has pressed for the formation of a war Cabinet with “real influence” over the management of the conflict, The Times of Israel reported. It’s expected to include at least two opposition politicians with extensive military experience. Both Mr. Gantz and his fellow National Unity member Gadi Eisenkot are chiefs of staff of the IDF. Mr. Gantz also is a former defense minister.
The National Unity Party has said its representatives on the war Cabinet should be made ministers without portfolio. The insistence on including them to direct the war against Hamas was seen by some as a reference to current members of Mr. Netanyahu’s coalition government without military experience, according to The Times of Israel.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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