Blue and White leader Benny Gantz caused a political uproar on Thursday when he gave two opposite answers to the question of whether he would sit in a government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
When Gantz was asked at the Knesset by Maariv diplomatic correspondent Yanir Cozin on whether the American peace plan could lead to a national unity government, Gantz replied, “We decided that Israel comes before everything, so we will support what is good for Israel.”
The statement – of not ruling out entering a coalition with Likud – went viral on the Internet. When Gantz found out that he had been misunderstood, he hurried back to reporters and changed his tune.
Gantz claimed in a statement to dozens of reporters that he did not hear the initial question because it was directed toward his ear that was damaged during his IDF service. “I didn’t understand the question,” he said. “I want to replace Netanyahu, not to sit with him.”