Gantz in political u-turn: I won't sit in same coalition with Netanyahu
The Blue and White leaders called for a probe of why Netanyahu authorized Germany selling similar submarines to Egypt without consulting then-defense minister Ya’alon or other security officials.
By GIL HOFFMANFormer IDF chief of staff and Blue and White Party Leader Benny Gantz speaks following the March 14 rocket launches towards central Israel, 2019.(photo credit: YANIR COZIN / MAARIV)
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz responded on Tuesday to the tapes revealed Monday night, claiming that they came at a convenient time for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."The tape was from a conversation that took place before the grave indictment of Netanyahu was announced and of course before it became clear that the prime minister received 16 million shekels in the submarine deal," said Gantz.Gantz: Submarines corruption scandal worst in country"s history, March 19, 2019 (Courtesy)Gantz added that he wanted to say now clearly and not on a tape: "I will not sit with Netanyahu in the government!"The Blue and White leader vowed on Monday to form a commission of inquiry to probe Netanyahu’s purchase of German submarines if he wins the April 9 election.Speaking at a press conference at Expo Tel Aviv, Gantz called the purchase of the subs “the worst scandal in the history of Israel.” Gantz admitted his “failure” for not stopping the subs from being purchased.Gantz and fellow Blue and White leaders Moshe Ya’alon, Gabi Ashkenazi and Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of bypassing the security establishment to purchase the submarines and indirectly making NIS 16 million on a deal made between the German company Thyssenkrupp and a steel company Netanyahu invested in through his cousin, tycoon Natan Milikowsky.The Blue and White leaders also called for a probe of why Netanyahu authorized Germany selling similar submarines to Egypt without consulting then-defense minister Ya’alon or other security officials.When asked whether Netanyahu is corrupt, Gantz said “I hope he is not corrupt, but these charges must be probed.”
