Posted on 09/19/21
| News Source: Arutz-7
In a candid conversation with Charedi news outlets, Defense Minister Benny Gantz doubled down on previous assurances he has given that he will not partner with Netanyahu in government again – and suggested an alternative candidate for premier.
“I have no problem with a Charedi prime minister,” Gantz said. “But I have no more faith in Netanyahu, after he twice broke his promises to me. The current government is a complex one, but it is still functioning well.”
And Gantz added, “I hope that the Charedim will join the government this year. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t be part of it. We have even set aside ministries for them, mostly ones currently held by right-wing parties. I hope that they find the courage to make the move.”
Gantz also said that, “I’m not worried about having a haredi prime minister. [Shas party head Aryeh] Deri is a very capable person.”
Questioned on his recent meeting with Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, the most revered Torah leader in the Lithuanian-haredi world, Gantz said, “I am very glad to have had the merit of meeting with him. My relationship with haredi society is important to me, and I hope that they feel the same way.”
When it was pointed out to him that some of his secular political partners were not happy at seeing pictures of him with Rabbi Kanievsky in the media, Gantz responded, “I’m not subject to anyone’s views, and I don’t believe in invalidating anyone – not religious people and not secular people either. I believe in trying our hardest to get along.”
Gantz added that, “In Israel, we have 1,200,000 haredim. If you want to get an idea of what the country will look like in another 50 years, take a look at Beit Shemesh. That’s what it’s going to be like. We need to make mutual discourse the rule, not the exception. Our enemies don’t distinguish between us, between secular and haredim – they see us all as part of the same problem.”