Gantz Leads Calls for Bibi Resignation Following Indictment Decision

By Staff, Agencies

Benny Gantz addressed on Thursday evening “Israeli” Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit's decision to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust, pending a hearing.

Gantz, who heads the political alliance Kahol Lavan along with Yair Lapid, vowed to refrain from forming a coalition with Netanyahu and called on him to resign.

"Mr. Netanyahu, this country is dear to us and I am sure that it is also dear to you. You have the power to stop this. People of ‘Israel’, sitting with Netanyahu in the same government cannot happen. I call on you, Netanyahu, to show responsibility and to resign from you position," Gantz said.

Gantz called on Netanyahu to "stop personal attacks on people you have appointed yourself," referencing Netanyahu's criticism of law enforcement and the legal system.

The ex-general also accused Netanyahu of choosing to "tread a path isn't appropriate for the prime minister. Instead of choosing what is good for the people, you chose what is good for yourself. 

Gantz noted that “Israel” was in a bad state if the attorney general decides to charge with bribery the person at its helm… Whoever holds the country dear is sad on this evening and I, too, am not happy as his political rival."

Yair Lapid, co-leader of Kahol Lavan, also called on Netanyahu to resign and hand over leadership of Likud to another politician. In a statement released shortly after Gantz's press conference, he said "Netanyahu can't carry on" as prime minister. "It disrespects us in the world."

Following Mendelblit's announcement, Netanyahu's Likud party released a statement and slammed the decision. "No one is surprised by the announcement of the attorney general, which came after three years of enormous pressures that were laid against him to file an indictment at any price – even when there is nothing. Just to do it before the election." 

The Likud went on to state: "This is political persecution. The campaign against the prime minister began with an attempt to accuse him of four corruption cases. Even now, before the hearing, three of them have collapsed. The rest of the claims will also collapse like a house of cards when the prime minister faces state's witnesses, brings forward dozens of witnesses who have oddly not been interrogated and produces the documents and protocols that prove that all of his actions and decisions were done according to law."

The statement went on to blast the attorney general for the timing of the decision. "A publication of the decision a mere month before the election, without giving the prime minister an opportunity to refute these false claims is a blatant and unprecedented interference in the election. It has one goal: to topple the right-wing government headed by Netanyahu so as to give rise to a left-wing government headed by Lapid and Gantz. We cannot let this happen."

Besides Gantz, other center and left-wing parties also welcomed the announcement by the attorney general. Labor Chairman Avi Gabbay said: "Netanyahu, resign, put an end to the national shame and don't run this battle from the Prime Minister's Residence."

Gabbay added: "Netanyahu is shaming” “Israel”, adding that “He is ruining everything in order to save himself. The people of ‘Israel’ don't want a corrupt government."

Opposition leader Shelly Yacimovitch also went after Netanyahu. "Starting this moment, Netanyahu is fighting for his life and cannot fight for the lives of Israel's civilians. He is not fit to be prime minister, let alone run in the election."

She then called on Netanyahu "to go cleanse himself without dragging an entire country behind him."

Labor Party later said in a statement: "Welcome, Benny. We're glad you've joined Labor's commitment to a governmental turnover. We've been telling you all along: Don't sit with Netanyahu. Replace Netanyahu."