Following strikes by the terrorist organization Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition party leader Benny Gantz declared they had reached an agreement to establish an emergency unity government.
Gantz and Netanyahu met secretly for about 30 minutes at the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) headquarters in Tel Aviv. Then they stayed there to sort out specifics, according to a report by The Times of Israel.
What Is Specified in the Agreement?
Gantz and his fellow party members will be sworn in as ministers under the terms of the deal, which will last for the length of the conflict. Gantz is a former minister of defense as well as the former chief of staff of the IDF, a position shared with fellow National Unity party member Gadi Eisenkot. They will join Netanyahu and Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the security cabinet.
The Jerusalem Post reports that Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer will be an observer in the war cabinet, making room for opposition leader Yair Lapid to enter the government.
National Unity also included a clause that said the emergency government could not adopt any laws unrelated to the war. This clause seems to be a reference to the administration's very contentious plan to revamp the judicial system.
Whether or not it decides to join the war, National Unity has pledged its complete support to the government and security services.
The political landscape in Israel would alter dramatically because of this deal. Notably, Gantz has been advocating for Netanyahu's removal. He cited the hardline coalition's support of radicals, the prime minister's continuing corruption investigation, and the coalition's drive to remove judicial checks on the government as reasons for his disapproval.
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'Sheer Evil'
Hamas, which serves as the de facto authority in Gaza, launched a horrific onslaught against Israel on Saturday, October 7. The attacks killed over a thousand Israelis. More than 150 Israeli troops and civilians are being held prisoner, according to Israeli authorities. These prompted the establishment of an emergency government.
With Netanyahu promising a "huge price" for the assault on Israel, the IDF has begun a counteroffensive against Hamas.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden confirmed that Americans are among the captives held by Hamas militants and the victims of the terrorist assault on Israel. Likening Hamas to ISIS, he condemned the organization as "sheer evil."
Although it is estimated that Hamas militants have kidnapped over 150 persons, the US president did not specify how many of them were American citizens. White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said afterward that the exact figure is still unclear.
Biden said in his statement that he had ordered his staff to meet and advise their Israeli colleagues on attempts to take back captives by sharing information and sending in extra US government professionals. He stressed that the security of the hostages held in Israel is his first responsibility as president.
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