Israeli Minister Gantz Arrives in US on Trip Not Approved By Netanyahu

Gantz is scheduled to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday

Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz arrived in the US on Sunday on a trip that was not approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to Israeli media, Netanyahu wasn’t aware of the trip until Gantz informed the prime minister of his plans on Friday in a tense phone call. A source told the Israeli news site Ynet that Netanyahu “made it clear to Minister Gantz that the State of Israel only has one prime minister.”

Gantz, the leader of Israel’s National Unity party, is scheduled to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday. In a speech on Sunday, Harris called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza but quickly clarified that she meant a six-week truce, which is on the table as part of a potential hostage deal.

White House officials told The New York Times that Gantz and Harris are expected to discuss hostage negotiations and the potential for a temporary ceasefire. Israel boycotted the latest hostage deal talks that were held in Cairo on Sunday.

Gantz is also set to hold talks with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Brett McGurk, President Biden’s top Middle East official on the National Security Council.

Gantz is portrayed as Netanyahu’s moderate opposition, but Gantz supports the Israeli slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza. He recently threatened that Israel will invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which is packed with 1.5 million Palestinians, if Hamas doesn’t release Israeli hostages by Ramadan, which begins on March 10.

Any full-scale assault on Rafah would incur huge civilian casualties as most of the Palestinians sheltering there are living in tents on the street. The US has given Israel the green light to kill civilians in the city since it won’t impose any consequences on Israel if it does and will continue to provide unconditional military support.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.