His words were not heard in the main hall, but the chairman of the Israeli Resilience party, Benny Gantz, did gain notoriety as he addressed mostly Israeli reporters from a side room at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, speaking in English.

Viewed as a major political threat to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Gantz told his audience that regarding the Iranian threat, he stands side by side with PM Netanyahu.

“It is no secret that Prime Minister Netanyahu is my political rival, and we disagree on many issues, but make no mistakes. We are both devoted sons of the same nation. When Israel’s security is under threat, there is no daylight between us.

“On this critical issue there is no Right or Left, there is no coalition or opposition.

“When it comes to defending Israel, we are united. I am standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Prime Minister Netanyahu in the fight against Iran’s aggression. I am certain he will do the same when I will be the prime minister of Israel.”

Back at home, Shas party officials condemned Gantz for traveling to Germany on Shabbos, stating he has no respect for tradition. The chareidi parties, including Yahadut Hatorah and Shas, are working hard to make sure that Gantz does not become Israel’s Prime Minister, announcing they will recommend the mandate to form a coalition should be given to PM Netanyahu.

Regarding the situation in Syria and the ongoing civil war, he assured his audience that as prime minister, he was not going to permit Iran to overrun Syria or Lebanon, and Gaza for that matter. He echoed PM Netanyahu regarding Israel preventing Tehran from becoming a nuclear power, stressing that as a former IDF chief of staff, he is well informed regarding Iran’s actions and aspirations.

He added that as a son of Holocaust survivors, he is aware the Iranian threat is not just one that threatens Israel, but Europe as well, and that the Jewish state will always protect itself by itself. Gantz labels Hezbollah as the most dangerous terrorist organization in the world, and that “it has more firepower than NATO countries”.

“Only a strong and secure Israel can achieve a lasting peace,” he said. “In many ways, Arabs and Israelis are closer than ever before, and Arab countries are starting to realize that Israel is part of the solution, not the problem.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)