Benny Gantz is an Israeli lawmaker and current minister-without-portfolio, who currently leads the National Unity party.
He was born in Kfar Ahim, a moshav that his parents helped found. His mother was a Holocaust survivor and his father was arrested by British authorities for attempting to enter pre-state Israel.
Gantz was drafted to the IDF in 1977 and served in the 1982 Lebanon war. He also participated in Operation Solomon, a covert mission that rescued Ethiopian Jews in 1991.
After serving as the IDF's chief of staff, in 2018 Gantz announced the formation of a new political party, what would later become Blue and White. He would eventually become the country's defense minister before joining the opposition and then rejoining an emergency government due to the war against Hamas.
He earned a history degree from Tel Aviv University, a Political Science masters degree from Haifa University and a National Resource Management master’s degree from the United States National Defense University.
He and his wife, Revital, live in Rosh Ha’ayin.
Qatargate or Qatarfake? Could the suspicions of treason have been a smokescreen aimed more at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who employed the supposed “traitors” in his office?
Benny Gantz said "Netanyahu proved again this morning that for him, political pressure outweighs the good of the state and its security."
Benny Gantz noted, "As the investigation into the 'Qatargate' affair progresses, Netanyahu's determination in the battle against the systems responsible for the investigation intensifies."
Lapid said the "violent and extortionate bill" would be repealed in the first week of next Knesset.
The party leaders who participated in the meeting included the opposition leader, National Unity chairman, and Democrats chairman.
National Affairs | Netanyahu once cited wartime focus as the reason to delay; his shifting arguments reveal deeper concerns—not just about survival, but about how history will judge his leadership.
"He and we face many operational and ethical challenges. I am confident that he will lead the IDF in rebuilding after the largest disaster in our history," Lapid wrote.
"Bar must think the public is stupid," Ben-Gvir wrote, adding, "the Shin Bet itself was the one that blocked the worsening of conditions for terrorists in prison."
"I believe that an organization or a person who cannot stand up and face failure will find it very difficult to improve," he said.
Zamir came a close second to Halevi in the race for IDF chief in January 2023, but that pick was made by then-defense minister Benny Gantz.
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