Chareidi MKs Attempt To Woo Gantz, Mediate Compromise Between Netanyahu And Gallant

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — In the political impasse which has developed in the Israeli government after the firing of defense minister Gallant, a number of chareidi MKs have stepped in to attempt to heal the rifts and to attempt to broaden the government.

Shas leader Aryeh Deri spent significant time this week mediating between the prime minister and Gallant and has been encouraging Netanyahu to reverse his decision to fire Gallant in return for a public apology by the minister over his statements.

Deri and Gallant met on Wednesday to talk about a compromise deal with Netanyahu that would keep Gallant in his position, according to the Walla news site and the Kan public broadcaster.

Gallant is open to apologizing for the timing of his statement against the legislation, without walking back the substance of his warning about security threats, according to the media outlets. Netanyahu initially was willing to bring back Gallant if he resigned his Knesset seat, making him beholden to the government throughout the current Knesset. However Gallant has yet to agree to this condition.

Opposition National Unity leader Benny Gantz said Thursday that “any other coalition member [besides Gallant] who gets the position will become a defense minister with an asterisk. I call on all members of the coalition not to accept the position that would harm security and give a gift to our enemies.”

At the same time, UTJ leader Moshe Gafni is trying to woo Gantz himself, whose popularity in recent polls has soared as he has taken the centrist role and not tried to pander to anti-reform elements. Gafni recently met with Gantz in an attempt to reach a compromise on a broad basis for judicial reform, but at the same time is trying to bring Gantz into the government to “balance” the right-wing approach of Smotrich and Ben-Gvir and maintain some stability in the fractious political climate in Israel. Gantz, wary of Netanyahu who broke a rotation agreement with him in 2021, has so far refused any offers to join the current coalition.