Finally, after many long months of political maneuvering in Washington’s back corridors, former Defense Minister and leader of the Kahol Lavan party, Benny Gantz, has launched an initiative to return to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government—albeit in a different format, which he labeled the “Hostage Redemption Government.”
اضافة اعلان
Gantz extended an invitation to Netanyahu and his former allies, Avigdor Lieberman and Yair Lapid, to become partners in this proposed government, with defined goals and a limited timeframe. However, both Lapid and Lieberman rejected the proposal, viewing it as a “blow to opposition unity” and a favor to Netanyahu.
In Netanyahu’s Likud party, Gantz’s proposal was welcomed, though with new conditions. While the initiative was presented as the “shortest route to a deal” with Hamas, critics argue that it would still require long negotiations—something Netanyahu might use to buy time and continue fueling the war effort.
Gantz held a press conference on Saturday evening, calling for a unity government with two primary goals: securing the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and passing a new law to conscript Haredim (ultra-Orthodox Jews) into military service—a law that would be acceptable across the political spectrum.
Early Elections
Gantz proposed that such a government “should not last more than six months,” concluding with early elections in spring 2026. He appealed directly to Netanyahu, Lapid, and Lieberman to form this government.
He reminded the public: “There are 50 hostages in Hamas’s tunnels, suffering hunger and torture. The state’s duty above all is to save lives. Every hostage is at risk of death, and time is running out, while our reservists and regular army are collapsing under the pressure.”
Gantz defended his previous decision to join Netanyahu’s emergency government in October 2023, saying: “Some claimed I saved Netanyahu back then, but the truth is I did it because of the harsh reality forced upon us by Hamas’s attack on October 7.” Now, he said, Israel stands at another “critical crossroads,” with a chance to move forward toward a deal to retrieve all the hostages. He vowed: “As for Nazi-like Hamas—we will fight it to the last breath.”
“Time for a Hostage Redemption Government”
Speaking directly to Netanyahu, Lapid, and Lieberman, Gantz said: “It is time to form a hostage redemption government and ensure the army is fully enlisted. All this for a limited period—within six months we will complete these two missions (hostage return and conscription law), then head to agreed-upon elections.” He proposed setting spring 2026 as the election date.
Netanyahu Should Leave Only via Elections
Gantz described the current government as “bad and must go,” but insisted Netanyahu should only be removed through elections. He justified his proposal to cooperate with Netanyahu’s coalition by saying, “This initiative isn’t for the government, but because of it—because it is failing to achieve victory or bring back the hostages, and because it is dividing the people.”
To opposition leaders, he said: “There is a difference between offering support from the outside and entering to influence from the inside, to remove extremists from decision-making. If Netanyahu refuses, at least we’ll know we did all we could and used the power the people gave us—instead of just shouting from the sidelines.”
He concluded: “We don’t have time. The hostages are starving, families are collapsing, and soldiers are being crushed under the weight. We have a wonderful, united nation—and a majority in the Knesset supports this path. A temporary hostage-redemption government that supports the military is the need of the hour.”
A Biden-Era Proposal
This type of initiative was first proposed by the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden. The aim was to sideline far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from Netanyahu’s government. The Biden administration held talks with opposition leaders, invited them to the White House, and even sent former U.S. ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, as a special envoy to apply pressure. Shapiro spent several weeks in Tel Aviv engaging in diplomatic efforts.
More recently, sources say Trump administration officials revived the idea, viewing it as a lifeline for Netanyahu—whom they still want to see remain in power.
A Late Proposal—and Conditions from Likud
However, the proposal appears to have come too late. While Netanyahu has remained publicly silent, his aides welcomed Gantz’s return—but only if he comes alone, without Lapid and Lieberman. The key condition: no early elections. The next election must be held as scheduled in October 2026.
A source within Likud told Israeli media: “Gantz isn’t a political genius, but he’s no fool either. He knows this initiative isn’t realistic—it’s an image-saving move. Whether it’s accepted or rejected, he wins by halting the slide in his popularity.”
Lapid, for his part, showed little enthusiasm. He believes Netanyahu would exploit the opposition’s inclusion to humiliate them—as he has done to Gantz in the past—and warned that the plan would divide and weaken the opposition.
Lieberman’s party outright rejected the proposal, calling it a non-starter. In a statement, they said: “Returning the hostages isn’t a left or right issue—it’s a humanitarian and moral one.” They demanded the hostages’ return “now, without any conditions.”
They added: “The only government we’ll join is a broad, Zionist one. We won’t be part of any deception.”
Fierce Opposition from Ben Gvir
The most targeted figure in this plan, far-right Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, launched a scathing attack on it. “We saw the difference between the security cabinet with Gantz and without him—in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and Rafah. Right-wing voters chose a right-wing policy, not Gantz’s policy, nor a centrist government, nor surrender deals with Hamas. We say yes to absolute victory.”
