National Unity party chairman MK Benny Gantz opened his faction's weekly meeting by addressing the battle taking place in Jenin. "The activity to maintain security in Judea and Samaria is critical to the security of the citizens of Israel. It is good that the IDF operates where necessary and when necessary with full freedom of action. Any responsible security action will continue to receive our support. The operation is still ongoing at this moment, and we all support our forces," Gantz said. "Unfortunately, even before the soldiers have left the area, there were those who came out again with the erroneous claim that our operations in Jenin, Nablus, and anywhere in Judea and Samaria are not extensive enough. We have control on the ground, we have excellent intelligence, and we prevent attacks every day. I trust the security forces to expand the activity as much as necessary - with responsibility and determination. Wherever terrorism raises its head - our forces will operate. At this time, we all support the soldiers in the field - and hope that the operation will end without additional casualties." Gantz then turned to the judicial reform issue and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement that the judicial reform legislation would be advanced this week. "The Prime Minister announced yesterday that he intends to return to unilateral legislation 'in a responsible manner'. This is a logical fallacy. Unilateral progress in the coup d'état legislation is not a responsible step - it is a destructive step for Israeli society, economy, security and democracy. This is not responsibility - this is lawlessness." "Last week, Netanyahu had two choices, the first was to bring about the election of an opposition representative and a coalition representative and to establish the judicial selection committee as we had agreed, to continue negotiations and strive for agreements that will prevent a disaster here. The second was to surrender to the extremists, choose his narrow political interest over the State of Israel and bring about the explosion of the talks. Netanyahu, unfortunately, chose the second option. If Netanyahu decides to take us back three months, everyone will lose from such a move - right and left, Arabs and Jews, and secular and haredim. It's a lose-lose fight. "Unilateral legislation will turn into Netanyahu's unilateral disconnect from the people. A disconnect that will end in failure. Netanyahu - you know that this move does not have a majority of the people. We were already there, on the brink of the abyss, on the brink of civil war - I call on Netanyahu, don't be the one who throws the match in the wood pile," Gantz warned. Related articles: House probes US funding to groups tied to Israel protests 'Race to the bottom' is breaking records for hilarity Opposition MKs appeal changes to Judicial Selection Committee Knesset passes bill to change composition of key committee In his opinion, "If Netanyahu decides on a 'creeping coup d'état' - he will smash against the wall of reality. The public understands, the world understands, the markets understand - and Netanyahu should also understand: there will be no coup d'état. There will be no unilateral legislation. It is doubtful whether there is a majority in the Knesset - certainly not for this, the majority of the people. There is no way that Israeli society will allow this to happen." "I again call on him to show national responsibility, to appoint the judicial selection committee as agreed upon, to return to the negotiating room, and to find solutions that will keep democracy strong and the State of Israel united. I promise even today that no consideration will guide us in the National Unity party other than the interest of the State of Israel. That's how it's always been - and that's how it always will be," he concluded.
