2024-03-03 05:59:16
The Israeli Embassy in Washington received instructions not to facilitate the trip of war cabinet minister Benny Gantz to the United States, after he did not obtain permission from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Kan public broadcaster reported.
In addition, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, brother of President Isaac Herzog, will not participate in the visit, according to the commission’s report.
Media sources confirmed that Netanyahu was angry at Gantz’s decision to travel to Washington, on Sunday, to hold meetings with senior American officials, without his approval.
A source close to Netanyahu said that the Prime Minister “made it clear to Minister Gantz that the State of Israel has only one prime minister,” Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported.
The source said that the trip was organized in violation of government regulations, which “require every minister to obtain prior approval to travel from the Prime Minister.”
Gantz confirmed that he informed Netanyahu of his intention to travel to the United States.
Gantz, a former defense minister, is Netanyahu’s main political rival in opinion polls.
Gantz brought the National Unity Party, which he leads, into the war government, after the surprise attack carried out by Hamas on Israel last October 7, and the subsequent violent Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip.
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