'A pitiful show': Liberman rejects Gantz's hostage redemption gov't proposal

Gantz has entered two unity governments under Netanyahu in the past. The last time was after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman rejected Blue and White Party head Benny Gantz’s proposal to join him in forming a temporary hostage redemption government, calling it “a pitiful show” and a “waste of time” during a Sunday morning interview on KAN Reshet Bet.

Gantz’s proposal called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), and Liberman to join forces in forming a temporary "hostage redemption government" for six months that would have focused objectives, which Gantz listed during a press conference on Saturday evening.

Netanyahu and Lapid have yet to respond to the proposal.

Liberman strongly criticized the proposal, claiming that it “isn’t a move meant to save the hostages, but to save Gantz,” during the interview.

Further slamming Gantz, he called the proposal “a pitiful show. I saw a tired, frightened, terrified man begging for his life, crawling, and hitching a ride on the most sensitive issues.”

Liberman said during the interview that about an hour before Gantz’s press conference, he received a phone call from him that he had chosen to ignore.

“I didn’t answer him,” Liberman said.

“I don’t belittle Gantz, I pity him. Likud doesn’t take him seriously. Netanyahu has proven that for him, there are no security considerations,” Liberman added.

Shortly after Liberman’s interview, Gantz made a statement on social media standing by his proposal, regardless of coalition disapproval.

“Even if the coalition refuses, we’ll be able to look ourselves in the mirror and say that we truly tried everything,” Gantz wrote. He also underscored the importance of using political power to save the hostages.

Gantz's proposal lists goals for the government

Gantz’s proposal listed primary goals that the government would focus on, which included securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and passing the controversial haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft law.

Gantz’s proposal also included moving elections up, to take place after the objectives were complete in the spring, rather than in October 2026 as is currently scheduled.

Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli (Likud) commented on Gantz's proposal on Sunday morning, stating that he “doesn't shut the door on him,” and doesn’t “join in mocking him,” on KAN Reshet Bet.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on coalition faction leaders to "make it absolutely clear: Gantz is not entering the government,” during a Sunday morning statement.

"We achieved results without Gantz in Iran. We achieved results without Gantz against Hezbollah. We achieved results on various fronts," Ben-Gvir continued.

"If we want to achieve results in Gaza, Benny Gantz must not enter the government," he said.

"His perception is what led to the misconception and the situation we are in," Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said. "If he wants to join the government, he should first apologize and stick to the government's line of Hamas eradication. It’s important that Netanyahu be surrounded by good people, not those with messianic delusions about peace."

Gantz has entered two unity governments under Netanyahu in the past. The last time was after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.

However, Gantz then left the coalition due to disagreements with the prime minister, claiming that Netanyahu was preventing Israel from “moving forward to a real victory” in the war.

During the Saturday night press conference, Gantz addressed anticipated criticism of the move and dismissed claims that his initiative was politically motivated.

He said that the proposal was solely for the purpose of rescuing the hostages and not to "save Netanyahu."