Israel continues efforts to form ‘national emergency government’

Efforts continue in Israel to form a “national emergency government” to include opposition parties aimed at confronting the Hamas-led Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, representatives of the Likud Party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the opposition State Camp party, led by Benny Gantz, will meet today to discuss ways to form such a “unity government”.

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The paper quoted Gantz as saying that he is ready to join the government and participate in the “mini-ministerial cabinet” that will be concerned with managing the war on the besieged Gaza Strip. He is a former chief of staff of the so-called Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

The head of Yisrael Beiteinu party, Avigdor Lieberman, said yesterday that he is willing to join a national emergency government on one condition: that Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and the army Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi “pledge to wipe out Hamas”.

Israel’s extreme far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, has agreed to join Lieberman and Gantz on the condition that they unite to “crush Hamas”.

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