Benny Gantz
Former Defence Minister of Israel · Blue and White / National Unity
2 changes of mind on record, 2019–2024
How this works
Each change shows what they said then and what they said later, in their own words, dated, with the source.
Every quote is checked word for word against a saved copy of its source. Translations are labelled.
The short labels on each line are our summaries.
At a glance
- Judicial reform Fights the override clauseBacks the President's outlineA real reform is needed Nov 2022Mar 2023Sept 2024
- Sitting in a government with Netanyahu Won’t sit with NetanyahuIn government with NetanyahuLeaves Netanyahu's government Feb 2019May 2020Sept 2022Oct 2023Jun 2024
first said said otherwise
Judicial reform
Then
Fights the override clause
As Defence Minister, before the new government takes office, he says he will fight the override clause as the way to pass bills that change the state.
"פסקת ההתגברות במתכונתה המדוברת היא פשוט הדרך של הממשלה המסתמנת להעביר הצעות חוק שישנו את פניה של המדינה. יפגעו דרמטית בדמוקרטיה הישראלית ויחלישו מאד את המנגנונים ששומרים עליה."
Our translation The override clause in its proposed form is simply the way for the emerging government to pass bills that will change the face of the country. They will dramatically harm Israeli democracy and greatly weaken the mechanisms that protect it.
Source גנץ בהצהרה לוחמנית נגד פסקת ההתגברות: "נאבק בכל כוחנו" (אייס) (as reported by ice.co.il)
3 months later
Later
Backs the President's outline
After the President's outline is published, he says it is not his dream outline but must serve as a comprehensive compromise or as a halt and dialogue.
"מתווה הנשיא אינו מתווה החלומות שלי, אבל חייב לשמש או כפשרה כוללת או לעצירה ודיאלוג"
Our translation The President's outline is not my dream outline, but it must serve either as a comprehensive compromise or as a halt and dialogue
Source ראשי האופוזיציה קיבלו את מתווה הנשיא: "לא מושלם - אבל פשרה הוגנת" (מעריב) (as reported by maariv.co.il)
1 year, 5 months later
Latest
A real reform is needed
At the Bar Association's conference he says a real judicial reform is needed, for the citizen, not the politicians.
"נדרשת רפורמה משפטית אמיתית, לא למען הפוליטיקאים, אלא למען האזרח"
Our translation A real judicial reform is needed, not for the politicians, but for the citizen
Source גנץ: נדרשת רפורמה משפטית - רק הממשלה הזו תוכל להוביל אותה (כיפה) (as reported by kipa.co.il)
Context: The coalition's judicial overhaul was announced in January 2023; the President's outline was published on 15 March 2023. Gantz left the war cabinet in June 2024.
Sitting in a government with Netanyahu
Then
Won’t sit with Netanyahu
After the Attorney General's decision to indict Netanyahu, he will not sit with Netanyahu in a government.
"בנסיבות שנוצרו לא אשב עם נתניהו בממשלה"
Our translation Under the circumstances that have been created, I will not sit with Netanyahu in the government
Source גנץ מודיע רשמית: "לא אשב בממשלה נתניהו" (סרוגים) (as reported by srugim.co.il)
1 year, 2 months later
Later
In government with Netanyahu
He and Netanyahu have together decided to form a unity government and take national responsibility.
"אני, ראש הממשלה נתניהו ו-71 מנהיגי ציבור נוספים הגענו להכרעה הקשה ולקחנו אחריות לאומית."
Our translation I, Prime Minister Netanyahu and 71 other public leaders reached the difficult decision and took national responsibility.
2 years, 4 months later
Later
Won’t sit with Netanyahu
There is no possibility for him to sit with Netanyahu again; it will not happen.
"אני אומר לכם שנתניהו פגע באורח אנוש בממלכתיות הישראלית ולכן אין אפשרות מבחינתי לשבת עם נתניהו ואין אפשרות ממלכתית או פוליטית. זה לא יקרה."
Our translation I am telling you that Netanyahu has gravely harmed Israeli statesmanship, and therefore there is no possibility, as far as I am concerned, of sitting with Netanyahu, and no statesmanlike or political possibility. It will not happen.
Source גנץ: "אם תהיה ממשלת נתניהו 61, תקראו לי לראיון סיכום של המדינה" (מעריב) (as reported by maariv.co.il)
1 year later
Later
In government with Netanyahu
He stands with Netanyahu in an emergency government, calling it a partnership of shared fate rather than a political one.
"העמידה שלנו כאן, שכם אל שכם, היא מסר ברור לאויבינו, וחשוב מכך, מסר לכל אזרחי ישראל - כולנו יחד, כולנו מתגייסים. השותפות שלנו היא לא פוליטית, היא שותפות גורל."
Official translation Our standing here, shoulder to shoulder, is a clear message to our enemies, and more importantly, a message to all citizens of Israel – we are all together, we are all mobilizing. Ours is not a political partnership but a shared fate.
Source הודעה משותפת לראש הממשלה נתניהו, שר הביטחון גלנט ויו״ר המחנה הממלכתי גנץ
7 months later
Latest
Leaves Netanyahu's government
Announcing his party's exit from the emergency government, he says Netanyahu is preventing the move towards what he calls real victory, and calls for elections in the autumn.
"לצערי, נתניהו מונע מאיתנו להתקדם לניצחון האמיתי, שהוא ההצדקה למחיר הכואב והמתמשך. לכן, אנחנו עוזבים היום את ממשלת החירום, בלב כבד, אך בלב שלם."
Our translation Sadly, Netanyahu is preventing us from advancing to the real victory, which is the justification for the painful and ongoing price. Therefore, today we are leaving the emergency government, with a heavy heart but a whole one.
Source גנץ בנאום פרישה דרמטי: "בלב כבד אך שלם, אנחנו עוזבים את הממשלה" (JDN) (as reported by jdn.co.il)
Context: The Attorney General announced his decision to indict Netanyahu, subject to a hearing, on 28 February 2019; the indictment was filed in January 2020. After a third election in a year and with the coronavirus pandemic under way, Gantz agreed in April 2020 to a unity government with a rotation of the premiership; that government fell in December 2020. Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023; his party joined an emergency government four days later and left it in June 2024.