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.
Opposition MKs called the proposed haredi draft exemption bill harmful to IDF soldiers and warned of an intense parliamentary and public struggle to block its swift passage.
Netanyahu defied A-G by appointing Roi Kachlon as interim civil service chief, sparking criticism over Kachlon’s qualifications and escalating tensions with the judiciary.
The suspect allegedly carried out several tasks with full awareness of their potential to harm Israel’s security.
"Those who do not contribute to the national effort would do well, at the very least, not to hinder it," Netanyahu responded.
Reflecting on his career, Sa’ar remarks: “I think I’m the Israeli politician who has written the most resignation letters. I never focus on the seat; it’s not what interests me.”
“A fixated mind can make one believe black is white,” he explained.
Following the vote, Eisenkot called the bill “a bill to destroy Israel’s intelligence superiority.”
Bennett would have 24 seats, Likud would drop to 21 seats, National Unity would decrease to 14 seats, and Yesh Atid would garner 12.
Netanyahu called the ruling an "antisemetic step with one goal - to deter me, to deter us - from exercising our right to defend ourselves."
IDF announces fallen soldier • Netanyahu aide Eli Feldstein indicted for endangering national security
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