Benny Gantz
Benjamin "Benny" Gantz is an Israeli politician and retired army general. He served as a minister without portfolio from 2023 to 2024, as the minister of defense between 2020 and 2022, and as deputy prime minister between 2021 and 2022. From 2020 to 2021, he was the alternate prime minister.
Standing...
Stories...
Jul 6, 2026
Center
Gantz refused to publicly commit to not forming a coalition with Haredi parties, ending talks with Hendel.
Yesh Atid sees Gantz's reluctance as a strategic weakness that undermines opposition credibility.
Jul 6, 2026
Far Right
Gantz was unable to reach an agreement with Hendel and Simhi, reportedly over cooperation with haredi parties.
Gantz's inability to form a broad center-left coalition is viewed positively by religious Zionists who distrust his willingness to work with haredim and his centrist policies.
Jul 3, 2026
Lean Left
Gantz's National Unity party has held talks on potential coalition alternatives but remains divided internally.
A center-right figure whom Labor/Meretz see as too hesitant to join a unified opposition against the far-right.
Jul 3, 2026
Far Left
Gantz left the coalition but still supports the war, calling for a broader national unity government without the far-right.
Hadash views Gantz as a centrist who fails to challenge the occupation or offer a real peace alternative.
Jul 3, 2026
Center
Negotiating with Yoaz Hendel for a pre-election union, facing difficulties over Hendel's demand to split later.
Yesh Atid sees Gantz as a potential partner but is frustrated by slow progress in uniting the center against Netanyahu.
Jul 2, 2026
Lean Left
Gantz's National Unity party is caught between backing the war effort and demanding a more serious push for a hostage deal, fueling speculation about a potential split.
Labor and Meretz view Gantz as a centrist who has failed to break with Netanyahu's hardline policies, and they expect him to take a firmer stand for a ceasefire.
Jul 1, 2026
Lean Left
Gantz's National Unity party wavers between supporting the war cabinet and opposing coalition excesses.
Labor/Meretz criticize him for not breaking cleanly with the far-right, diluting centrist opposition.
Jul 1, 2026
Far Left
Gantz continues to serve in the war cabinet despite growing opposition from his own party over the Gaza strategy.
Hadash sees Gantz as a centrist who enables the far-right by staying in the coalition, failing to break with Netanyahu's policies.
Jun 30, 2026
Center
Reported to be working on a political merger with Shmachi and Hendel to create a centrist bloc before the next election.
Yesh Atid views Gantz's efforts as necessary to unite the center against Netanyahu but remains skeptical given past failed attempts.
Jun 24, 2026
Far Left
Gantz is under fire from the left for continuing to serve in the emergency government while settlements expand.
Hadash criticizes Gantz for providing a fig leaf of centrist legitimacy to a far-right government that advances annexation.