Gantz Expected To Withdraw His Party From Netanyahu Coalition Tomorrow

Israeli War Cabinet member Benny Gantz is expected to withdraw his National Unity party from the government coalition of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tomorrow, fulfilling an ultimatum he made last month demanding clarity over the post-war governance of Gaza. Kann reports that Gantz will make the announcement tomorrow at 20:40 local 18:40 BST 13:40 ET.

• The Times of Israel reports: "...there are no ongoing negotiations or efforts by coalition parties to bridge the gaps with Gantz or ensure that he remains in the coalition after the June 8 deadline, and barring any last-minute surprises, he will honor the ultimatum..."
• Gantz's demands made on May 18 are as follows, per The Jerusalem Post: "Returning the hostages; demolishing Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip; providing a governing alternative in the Strip: returning residents of the North to their homes by September 1 and rehabilitating the western Negev; promoting normalization with Saudi Arabia; and adopting an outline for standardized national service in which all Israelis serve the country."
• JP noted yesterday: "While Netanyahu publicly rejected the demands, the new Israeli proposal on a hostage deal with Hamas ... was not far from Gantz's demands, and therefore it is unclear whether he intends to quit the government at week's end."