Gantz to meet Blinken in Washington on Tuesday
Gantz will also meet with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan
Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz will meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Tuesday, his office said in a statement.
Gantz, who is a former IDF chief-of-staff and defense minister, will also meet with Vice President Kamala Harris, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and the White House adviser for the Middle East Brett McGurk. Upon his arrival on Sunday, Gantz met with the CEO of the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC.
Gantz had informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday that he planned to travel to the United States on Saturday night, and wanted to coordinate the messages he would convey in his meetings. It is understood Netanyahu was furious to learn Gantz's itinerary, said by some to be a sign of Washington's clear preference for the centrist politician over Netanyahu. It ignited a political storm in Jerusalem, with Netanyahu's allies accusing the war cabinet minister of undermining the premier. Gantz went forward with the visit, despite it being unsanctioned and the Israeli embassy in Washington ordered not to handle any of the meetings.
Gantz, Netanyahu's long-time political rival, agreed to enter an emergency unity government to lead Israel’s war against Hamas following the October 7 massacre.