Despite Minister Benny Gantz’s departure, Israeli PM Netanyahu’s nationalist-religious coalition still controls parliament, with a 64-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
Meanwhile, Gantz, who previously served as chief of the armed forces and defense minister, now heads the centrist National Unity party, which currently holds eight seats.
Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party, which holds the most seats in parliament with 32, has seen internal conflicts, notably with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, over Gaza strategy.
Furthermore, the settler party Religious Zionism, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has secured seven seats. Ultra-nationalist Jewish Power, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, holds six seats, while Noam has one seat in parliament.
Israeli Minister Benny Gantz has stepped down from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency government, taking away the only centrist voice from the predominantly right-wing coalition, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Netanyahu released a concise statement urging Gantz not to “leave the front,” but Gantz’s resignation won’t jeopardize the ruling right-wing coalition’s parliamentary majority of 64 seats out of 120 in the Knesset.