Whitewashed words: Netanyahu's office hits back at Gantz's 'ultimatum'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has responded to the ultimatum set by war cabinet minister Benny Gantz. On Saturday (May 18), Gantz demanded that Prime Minister Netanyahu commit to an agreed vision for the Gaza conflict that would include stipulating who might rule the territory after the war with Hamas. 

Addressing a press conference, Gantz said he wanted the war cabinet to form a six-point plan by June 8. If the expectations are not met, he said, he will withdraw his centrist party from the conservative premier's broadened emergency coalition.

'Whitewashed words'

Hitting back at Gantz, Netanyahu's office said that while the country's heroic soldiers were fighting to destroy Hamas battalions in Rafah, the war cabinet minister chose to set an ultimatum to the prime minister instead of giving an ultimatum to the Palestinian militant group.

Also read | IDF retrieves body of fourth hostage in Gaza; Gantz gives ultimatum to Netanyahu, sets June 8 deadline

"The conditions set by Benny Gantz are whitewashed words that clearly mean ending the war and a defeat for Israel, abandoning most of the hostages, leaving Hamas intact, and establishing a Palestinian state," the office said, Israel National News reported late Saturday.

"Our soldiers did not fall in vain and certainly not for the sake of replacing 'Hamasstan' with 'Fatahstan," the office added. 

It further posed three questions to Gantz- whether was he willing to complete the operation in Rafah; does he oppose civilian control of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, even without Mahmoud Abbas; and whether was he willing to accept a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank as part of the normalisation process with Saudi Arabia?

'If PM listened to Gantz...'

In response to the questions, Gantz's office said that if Netanyahu had listened to Gantz, "we would have entered Rafah months ago and completed the mission."

Also watch | Benny Gantz vs Benjamin Netanyahu: Who's best for Israeli PM?

"The Palestinian Authority will not be able to govern Gaza, other Palestinian factions might – but only if we create backing from moderate Arab countries and American support. It would be advisable for the PM to focus on this and not sabotage these efforts," Gantz's office said. 

"As Gantz said in a speech – there is no intention to establish a Palestinian state, and this is not the demand of the Saudis. Gantz, unlike Netanyahu, did not return Hebron nor announce support for a two-state solution," it added. 

(With inputs from agencies)