The chairman of the Blue & White party, MK Benny Gantz, made his final offer to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday evening, calling on him to wave immunity from prosecution and “we will be a partner beginning talks towards a coalition government.”

Gantz called on the prime minister to announce that he will not request immunity from prosecution in any of the cases against him once indicted.

Taking some time to respond, PM Netanyahu said that both Gantz and his number two man, MK Yair Lapid, have rejected any and all offers made and this final offer is nothing more than another political spin. “Now, with only 48 hours remaining, they announce new demands prior to even beginning negotiations. It is absurd”.

Surprising many, Lapid on Monday evening announced that if there is another election for Knesset, he waves the guarantee to rotate the premiership with Gantz, explaining “it was not a difficult decision, as I told my children, I always do what is best for the nation and in this case, this is the thing to do”.

This seems to mark the end of what has become known as “the cockpit” leadership of the party, Gantz, Lapid, Moshe Ya’alon and Gabi Ashkenazi, with three of the four being retired IDF Chiefs of Staff. With Lapid announcing he places the leadership mantle in Gantz’s hands, it signals voters will now understand that any and all decisions will be made alone, by the party leader and not the cockpit.

At least there is one thing the party leaders have agreed upon, that is if there is an election for 23rd Knesset, it will be on a Monday, not a Tuesday, on March 2, 2020.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)