Gantz rejects the compromise: "There is no one to talk to at this time"

Benny Gantz (Photograph: Olivia Fitussi, Flash90.)

The chairman of the state camp, Benny Gantz, will make a statement to the media this evening (Tuesday), in which he is expected to address for the first time the reports on the compromise outline surrounding the legal reform, which proposed, among other things, to freeze the legislation for a year and a half.

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"The state camp is a faction that puts the interests of the State of Israel and its citizens - above all else. And the country, unfortunately, is today under clear and immediate danger - and without stable and strong hands holding the steering wheel," Gantz said. "The minister who trusts the police creates chaos and dismantles governance. The foreign minister works in public relations instead of foreign relations. The education minister hurts Yad Vashem, in the name of political whims. The defense minister gives up the people's army. The justice minister - declared war on the Israeli legal system and democracy. At this time: there is no effective prime minister in Israel - and a man who is honest in his eyes will do."

Gantz warned "We are in a period of tremendous challenges. In the most serious security situation we have been in since the Yom Kippur War. When the People's Army - is in danger of being disbanded and severely damaged in competence. Faced with a changing global economy, and a cost of living that reaches every home in Israel. Faced with an education system that is being eroded to the bone in budgets and values, and undercuts state education."

"We are facing a threat to our democracy and the system of the regime, in front of a government led by extremists who do not want to correct or reform. Who want unrestrained political control over the judicial system, and not only over it. Also over the media, over the education system, over the economic institutions as well as the public system. We are facing a rift that harms the Israeli resilience that has always been the source of the strength of the State of Israel, as in the Yom Kippur War where the heroes in tanks, planes, and on the ground won, and saved the State of Israel at an unbearable price."

"Our goal is not to reach a constitutional crisis"

According to him, "We must stand up to the government's attempts - but also to provide an alternative and make every effort to solve the fundamental problems, while maintaining our principles. We have done so, and I inform you - we will continue to do so. I do not trust Netanyahu, who first does what is best for him, And only then what is right for the country. But leadership should put the state's consideration, and the good of the country first."

"I would like to remind the public - our goal is not to reach a constitutional crisis that will tear the people apart, but to preserve democracy and avoid it if possible," he clarified. "This is the responsibility of every leader, and unfortunately Netanyahu and his partners have decided to drag the State of Israel into the deepest crisis in its history."

"Israel is ruled by an extreme minority government"

Later in his speech, Gantz referred to the negotiations for a compromise: "As you know, in recent days the president of the country, who is making sincere efforts to prevent the great rift, contacted me and presented an outline that he said was agreed upon with the prime minister. From the beginning, I told the president that I had difficulty seeing the coalition supporting the outline, but it is our duty to try - with responsibility and with the necessary caution."

"The presented outline and its main points were published in the media, it is not our dream plan. We were willing to discuss it as a basis, in order to stop the political upheaval and damage to the State of Israel," he noted. "We were prepared, based on the understanding that when we are in power, we will lead a broader process that tightens the rule of law and regulates the rules of the game through wide consensus. Yesterday we held consultations and analyzed the proposal - up to the point of the suspension. Without going into specifics, I can say that the first principle was that if we were to reach an agreement, which we did not, first and foremost, the burden of proof would be fixed, and the 'Defense Law' would be legislated, and only then would other amendments be made."

However, Gantz said "Unfortunately, as we assessed - there is indeed a lot to talk about, but reality has shown that there is no one to talk to at this time. The barn burners have not put down the torches, and continue to burn Israeli society from the inside even when they know how heavy The price is, Even when the house goes up in flames."

"I don't know if Netanyahu is a partner of the extremists out of his personal interests or a prisoner of them out of weakness. What is clear is that Israel is ruled by an extreme minority government, whose majority does not reflect the majority of the public. Not even the majority of the public that elected it," he attacked. "An extreme minority, which does not have a majority in the people - decided to dismantle the democratic values of the State of Israel. This minority is degenerating us towards the abyss."