BICOM

Former Israel Defence Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz launched a personal attack on Benjamin Netanyahu last night, contrasting his career in the military with Netanyahu’s time spent in the US as a diplomat giving TV interviews and going to cocktail parties.

In only his second election campaign speech, Gantz said: “When I was laying in the muddy trenches with my soldiers during freezing winter nights, you, Benjamin Netanyahu, left Israel in order to learn English and practice it at fancy cocktail parties. In the days when I was commanding the Shaldag Unit on life-threatening operations in enemy nations, you, Benjamin Netanyahu, courageously and determinedly forged your path between makeup stations in television studios … and on the nights in which I stole a brief hour of sleep in my uniform and boots, you infiltrated the measuring rooms of the most esteemed suit designers in the world, and you returned safely to your base in your luxury hotel.”

Gantz lambasted the Prime Minister’s addiction to the “trappings of power, to corruption and hedonism” and told voters the choice they face in the upcoming elections is “Bibi [Netanyahu] before everything or Israel before everything”. Netanyahu responded on social media writing: “Benny Gantz, shame on you. As a soldier and officer in Sayeret Matkal, I risked my life time after time for Israel’s security, security that you want to endanger with unilateral withdrawals and with your support for the dangerous nuclear agreement with Iran.”

Last night, Benny Gantz published his party list for the 9^th April elections. Former Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon is second on the list and the party’s newest recruit, Trade Union Chairman Avi Nissenkorn is third. Journalist Miki Haimovich is fourth on the list and the party’s top female candidate. Yoaz Hendel, a former senior adviser to Prime Minister Netanyahu is fifth and Zvi Hauser, Netanyahu’s former Cabinet Secretary is eighth.

Gantz has called on Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid to meet and discuss joining forces. Gantz is meeting with Lapid this morning in a final effort to see if they can unite into one centrist bloc. Lapid said he was willing to turn over every stone so as not to miss the opportunity to replace the Government. But the major obstacle is disagreement over who would lead the merged party.