Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz issued a stern warning to Prime Minister Benny Gantz about the consequences of not reaching a compromise on the state budget in a meeting of Gantz’s Blue and White faction at the Knesset on Monday.
“If Netanyahu will not get his act together, the Knesset will be dispersed,” Gantz said.
Gantz said he instructed Blue and White faction chairman Eitan Ginzburg to prepare relevant bills that advance equality and fighting corruption, which the party’s MKs could help pass before elections would be initiated.
“If we go to elections, the citizens of Israel will know who dragged them to the polls,” Gantz said.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid responded to Gantz in a speech in the Knesset plenum.
“Equality is not something you keep in your pocket in case you have political problems,” Lapid said. “You either care about it, or you don’t.”
Lapid said the bill that would prevent anyone under criminal indictment from serving as prime minister, that will come to a vote on Wednesday, was written by him together with Gabi Ashkenazi of Blue and White.
“If they really have values and they care, they should vote for it, not because of the situation with the coalition,” Lapid said.
Meanwhile, United Torah Judaism leader Ya’acov Litzman announced that he would return to his former post as construction and housing minister. He left the post two months ago to protest a lockdown taking place during Jewish holidays.