Since 13 June 2021, Gantz has been both justice minister and deputy prime minister in the Bennett-Lapid Government.
Early life
Gantz was born in Kfar Ahim, Israel, in 1959. His mother Malka was a Holocaust survivor.[4][5] His father was arrested by the British authorities for trying to enter Palestine illegally. His parents were among the founders of Moshav Kfar Ahim, a cooperative agricultural community in south-central Israel.[6]
On 13 February 2011, the Israeli government unanimously approved Gantz to be the next IDF chief of staff.[7]Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu stated in the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem that Gantz was an "excellent officer and experienced commander, and had rich operational and logistical experience, with all the attributes needed to be a successful army commander".[8]
In his first year as Chief of the General Staff, Gantz appointed the IDF's first-ever female major-general, Orna Barbivai.[9][10]
In July 2011, Gantz appointed a special committee to talk about a controversy that had started after a concerning mention of the word Elohim, "God", in the military Yizkor prayer. The committee determined that a passage should read Yizkor 'Am Yisrael, "May the Nation of Israel remember", and not Yizkor Elohim, "May God remember". Gantz supported the committee's ruling.[11]
Gantz was the chairman of the Fifth Dimension which specialized in tracking via smartphone spyware.[13] The company closed due to financial reasons.[14][15]
On 20 April 2020, Gantz and Benjamin Netanyahu announced an agreement on a unity government had been reached following the 2020 legislative election. The deal would involve both parties splitting power and Gantz and Netanyahu taking turns being prime minister. The deal says Gantz will be Vice Prime Minister until October 2021, by then he will become Prime Minister.[19]
Knesset speaker
On 26 March 2020, Gantz was elected as Knesset speaker, replacing Likud's Yuli-Yoel Edelstein who resigned. He vowed that he would not serve under 'corrupt leader' who faces criminal charges.[20]
Netanyahu-Gantz Government
On 17 May 2020, Gantz became Defense Minister and also Vice Prime Minister in the Netanyahu-Gantz Government.
Personal life
Gantz is married to Revital, with whom he has four children. He lives in Rosh HaAyin.[21]
↑Katz, Yaakov (4 August 2011). "IDF panel keeps God out of Yizkor prayer". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 17 August 2011. The IDF will retain the original wording of the Yizkor memorial prayer with 'Yizkor Am Yisrael' (May the People of Israel Remember), and not 'Yizkor Elohim' (May God Remember), a military committee tasked with ruling on the issue announced on Thursday.
↑Hoffman, Gil. (16 December 2018). "Did Stormy Daniels cause Benny Gantz's Cyber Company to close shop?" Jerusalem Post website Retrieved 16 December 2018.
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