Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz asked Thursday Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu to help extend the law prohibiting Palestinians who marry Israelis from receiving citizenship.

“The security consideration should be placed above all political considerations,” Gantz said.

The former military chief further instructed Blue and White chair, Eitan Ginzburg, to collaborate with coalition chairwoman Idit Silman to make sure there would be a majority within zionist parties to pass the law.

On Wednesday, the new coalition leaders realized they did not have the required majority to approve the bill, as the Likud refused to back the coalition even though they proclaimed their ideological support of the law.

The Lapid-Bennett coalition is comprised of the Islamist party Ra’am, led by lawmaker Mansour Abbas, who said he would not vote in favor of the extension, which puts this issue as the first obstacle facing the new coalition.

"Israel's security has never depended on one person, and will never depend on one person.

Mr. Prime Minister, we both know very well who has run the defense establishment in the past year, we both know very well who is working with the Americans in the face of the emerging agreement with Iran.

I promise the outgoing Prime Minister and all of you - we will continue to strengthen relations with the United States, which is our most important ally, and work together with the government so that Iran does not have nuclear weapons.

We will continue to influence that the agreement, if signed, will push Iran back. We will oppose a bad agreement."

"Yesh Atid", "Yemina", "New Hope", "Blue and White", the Labor, "Yisrael Beitenu", "Meretz" and "Ra'am" Parties signed the coalition deal, and by doing so finalized the establishment of a new government, which will be sworn in on Sunday.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz attended this morning (Friday) an end-of-the-year ceremony of "Acharai!" (after me!) movement, which prepares Israeli teenagers for the military service in the IDF.

"We have an army which is the people's army", said Gantz, "and everyone can and should serve in it. I would like to thank you for your willingness and readiness to serve".

"I want you to know", added Gantz, "that you have an opportunity to follow good commanders during your service, and you have the opportunity to become those good commanders which others will follow!".

📸 Tal Oz, Ministry of Defense

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Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz sent a warning to Lebanon on Monday, saying that “what Gaza experienced several weeks ago is only a fraction” of what the Israeli military can do.

“Israel will always be prepared to fight to protect its citizens, and will always operate with all means necessary to retrieve her sons home -- in Lebanon, in Gaza and everywhere,” Gantz said in an award ceremony of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for fighters in Operation Guardian of the Walls.

“The war the God forbid will erupt in Lebanon will be mainly conducted in the enemy’s territory, and its damage will be immense, painful and sweeping,” the former military chief warned.

Blue and White chair, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, said this week in closed conversations that “I am the rug on which [Naftali] Bennett is going to be the prime minister.”

According to sources, who wished to remain anonymous, Gantz is frustrated with the Bennett-Lapid government as he feels he is not receiving the deserved recognition for his role as the one who paved the way to end the rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“He thinks that Bennett, [Yair] Lapid and [Gideon] Sa’ar are taking him for granted, even though he’s from the second-largest party in the coalition, and even though he turned down sweeping proposals from Netanyahu until the last moment to form a government with him once more,” one of the sources was quoted as saying.

Blue and White party declined to comment.

Fifty-four years ago, when longing for nationalist dreams to redeem Zion, IDF forces achieved the miraculous victory in the Six-Day War.

In the days after the victory, the great controversy arose in Israeli society, which has since split between Jews who hold a Jewish dream of complete redemption, and Jews who have given up a dream of redemption and converted it into a European-American dream into a small and reformed civil state.

The issue of the future of the lands in Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley is a struggle that will not wait for the Jews until they decide what they want in their homeland. In principle, focusing on present affairs, while abandoning Israel’s long-term vision, is turning our backs on the core of the Zionist idea.

Last week, at a meeting of the Megilot Regional Council, Defense Minister Bnei Gantz made it clear to the leaders in Judea & Samaria that they would not receive permits for new construction. He stressed that the issue has his exclusive authority as Defense Minister. Prime Minister Bennett will soon discover how helpless he is in the face of his ministers' personal agenda. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will find himself sitting on the prime minister's chair, lacking any leadership ability, like a captain on a command bridge holding a detached steering wheel.

Against this background, the reluctance to form the Bennett Lapid government begins with the eternal Jewish question: What do the Jews want from their only state?

Gershon HaCohen

Israeli Defense Minister, Benny Gantz has made a statement about the flag parade on Thursday, "As I said last week, public leaders have a special responsibility, and it seems like in the past few days we haven't learned our lesson. Whoever is trying to negate legitimacy of basic democratic moves and incite friction, is also carrying responsibility. I'm calling everyone of you to avoid violence. This is the time for all public leaders to make a proactive statement to condemn violence, and political violence especially."

Israeli Defense Minister, Benny Gantz has returned from his brief 24 hour visit at the White House, where he met American security seniors. 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is meeting with Israel's Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the State Department in Washington.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz has landed in the U.S. and will meet today with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Washington D.C.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz departed for Washington on Wednesday evening.

"I am now leaving for the United States for a short but very important trip to ensure Israel's security. I am convinced that I can take care of Israel's security there, that here we can establish a government of change in which we will return and ensure unity in Israeli society, healing in Israeli society and the security of the State of Israel for all its citizens," he said before leaving.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz ended a meeting with Senators Ted Cruz and Bill Hagerty, who were visiting Israel. 

Gantz thanked the senators for their support for Israel and updated them on the current security situation. 

Gantz discussed the continued efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, as well as the importance of US and Israeli ties for continued support and security in the region. 

Defense Minister Benny Gantz is expected to submit a plan to provide financial assistance to the reserve soldiers who served in Operation Guardian of the Wall. 

Defense minister Benny Gantz has decided to extend the term of the IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi, for a fourth year.

📸 Ariel Hermoni, Defense Ministry Spokesmanship

Minister of Defense, Benny Gantz has decided to stop the delivery of non-humanitarian aid to Gaza included Cocoa. 

In addition, fuel trucks arrived to Kerem Shalom. 

Goldin family say "The troops still have not totally lost their values."

Ministry of Defense office says that in response to the gas, diesel and fuel tanks deliveries through Kerem Shalom, the threats in Israel are to supply Hamas with on that is considered humanitary aid, "As Minister of Defense said, what was before is not what going to follow. Only humanitarian aid will be allowed to enter Gaza. Any progress in the Gaza's rehabilitation will be conditioned by long peace and prisoner negotiations."

The leader of the Hamas terrorist organization antagonized Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz by walking home after a speech through the main streets of Gaza.

The Minister of Defense, Benny Gantz, spoke at the memorial service for the victims of Operation Peace for Galilee (the First Lebanon War). The memorial was also attended by President Reuven Rivlin, Chairman of the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization, Tami Shelach, and Home Front Command Commander Major General Uri Gordin, and was held at the Mount Herzl Memorial Hall.

Gantz said: "We lost many hundreds during Operation Peace for Galilee, and hundreds more fell in the South Lebanon Security Belt, in defense of the northern settlements. Each of the fallen is a world in its entirety, of shattered dreams and hopes, of families left with holes in their hearts. We will continue to do everything to be worthy of them. "

"We left Lebanon during a leadership move that ended a campaign that went on too long, knowing that our right to defend ourselves would be preserved."

Source: Minister of Defense Spokesman 

Middle East expert, Dr. Amir Bohbot reports that the Ministry of Defense is set to approve a large amount of fuel delivery to Gaza.

"Two diesel trucks entered Gaza for UNRWA in Gaza today, that were approved to enter tomorrow (Thursday), the delivery includes 10 gas tanks, 16 diesel tanks and 5 petrol tanks."

It is mentioned that Hamas will continue negotiating with Israel with Egyptian mediation for normalization. In this stage there is no progress although Minister of Defense, Benny Gantz decided to reopen Gaza's fishing range to 6 miles as a humanitarian act.

The negotiating teams of the Yesh Atid and Blue and White parties announced at the end of their meeting this morning that significant progress has been made and agreements have been reached in terms of forming the new government coalition.