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.
"We need to make a deal to return the hostages even if it comes at a very painful price."
The comment came after MK Benny Gantz was photographed on Monday evening patting Ben-Gvir on the back and shaking his hand.
Netanyahu focused on the Philadelphi Corridor, but Gantz and Eisenkot criticized him for ignoring the broader Iranian threat and global support.
Gantz attacked Netanyahu for failing to progress the war fast enough and then delaying the peace process for his own political interests.
"If Netanyahu is not strong enough to withstand the public pressure in order to return to Philadelphi – he should resign."
Netanyahu's speech on his position on the Philadelphi corridor and hostage negotiations has drawn criticism and support.
Bennett's joining the opposition bloc gives him a coalition majority of 63 seats because, according to the survey, four seats go to the new Bennett party heading the coalition bloc.
The spell that Israel’s longest-serving prime minister has cast on Israeli politics for two decades seems to have ended.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintained a slight lead over Benny Gantz in favorability for the prime minister role.
Netanyahu's Likud party is stabilizing, while his coalition partners see a drop in mandates. Where do parties stand should elections be called?
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