Israeli Minister Benny Gantz Resigns From Netanyahu's War Cabinet
Gantz's Resignation Leaves Netanyahu's Government in Crisis
Minister Says He Can No Longer Serve in Cabinet Due to Differences With Netanyahu
JERUSALEM, June 9 (Reuters) - Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz resigned from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's emergency government on Tuesday, citing differences with the prime minister over the handling of the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians.
Gantz, who is also the leader of the Blue and White party, said in a statement that he could no longer "take responsibility for the decisions being made" by the government. He said that he had tried to work with Netanyahu to find a way to de-escalate the conflict, but that his efforts had been unsuccessful.
Gantz's resignation is a major blow to Netanyahu, who has been under increasing pressure to end the conflict. The prime minister has been criticized for his handling of the crisis, which has seen more than 200 Palestinians and 12 Israelis killed.
The war cabinet is a small group of ministers who are responsible for making decisions on security matters. Gantz's resignation leaves Netanyahu with a weakened cabinet, and it is unclear how he will be able to continue to govern without the support of one of his most senior ministers.
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