GOVERNMENT

Benny Gantz

Leader, Blue and White party

Former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz became the Alternate Prime Minister of Israel and Minister of Defense in 2020 after the country held three general elections in the space of a year. Under the deal he reached with current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Gantz is scheduled to take over from him as Prime Minister on Nov. 17, 2021 – although many seasoned Israeli pundits are expressing doubt that the transition will take place. As Minister of Defense, Gantz has restored security coordination with the Palestinian Authority, stressing that doing so was in the “common interest - to Israeli citizens, to their safety, not to mention to the interest of Palestinian residents and the Palestinian economy.” (Photo: Wikimedia / Creative Commons License)