History of Benny Gantz in Timeline
"Benny" Gantz, an Israeli politician and former general, has held positions such as Minister of Defense, deputy prime minister, and alternate prime minister. As of 2023, he serves as a minister without portfolio.
1926: Birth of Nahum Gantz Ostolish
Nahum Gantz Ostolish, Benny Gantz's father, was born in 1926 in Sovata, located in the Transylvania region of Romania.
1928: Birth of Malka Weiss
Malka Weiss, Benny Gantz's mother, was born in 1928. She was a Holocaust survivor from Mezőkovácsháza, Hungary, who endured Bergen-Belsen.
June 1959: Benny Gantz is Born
In June 1959, Benjamin "Benny" Gantz was born in Kfar Ahim, Israel.
1977: Gantz Joins the IDF
Benny Gantz began his military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in 1977, volunteering as a paratrooper. One of his early missions involved providing security detail during Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's visit to Israel.
March 1978: Gantz Participates in Operation Litani
As a paratrooper, Benny Gantz fought in Operation Litani in March 1978.
June 1978: Gantz Takes Part in Raid on Fatah Training Base
In June 1978, Benny Gantz participated in a raid targeting a Fatah training base in Lebanon.
1991: Gantz Commands Unit in Operation Solomon
In 1991, Benny Gantz led the commando unit during Operation Solomon, overseeing the evacuation of Ethiopian Jews to Israel.
2000: Gantz Commands Judea and Samaria Division
Benny Gantz became the commander of the Judea and Samaria Division in 2000.
2001: Gantz Becomes Commander of Israeli Northern Command
In 2001, Benny Gantz assumed command of the Israeli Northern Command.
2005: Gantz Serves as Military Attaché in the United States
From 2005 to 2009, Benny Gantz served as Israel's military attaché in the United States.
2005: Death of Nahum Gantz Ostolish
Nahum Gantz Ostolish, Benny Gantz's father, passed away in 2005.
2009: Gantz Becomes Deputy Chief of the General Staff
Benny Gantz concluded his role as Israel's military attaché in 2009 and became the Deputy Chief of the General Staff.
2009: Death of Malka Weiss
Malka Weiss, Benny Gantz's mother, passed away in 2009.
February 2011: Petition Filed Against Gantz's Appointment
In February 2011, Attorney Avi'ad Vissuli from the Forum for the Land of Israel filed a petition to revoke Gantz's appointment as Chief of the General Staff. The petition was ultimately unsuccessful.
July 2011: Gantz Addresses Controversy Surrounding Military Prayer
In July 2011, Benny Gantz formed a special committee to address the controversy surrounding the use of the word "God" in a military prayer. Gantz upheld the committee's decision to change the wording.
2011: Becomes Chief of the General Staff of the IDF
Benny Gantz served as the 20th Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from 2011 to 2015.
2015: Completes Service as Chief of the General Staff of the IDF
In 2015, Benny Gantz completed his term as the 20th Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
December 2018: Gantz Enters Politics
Benny Gantz entered politics in December 2018, establishing the Israel Resilience party, which later merged with other parties to form Blue and White.
December 2018: Formation of New Political Party
In December 2018, Benny Gantz announced the formation of a new political party, initially keeping its name and his views under wraps. Polls showed fluctuating public support for the new party.
January 2019: Gantz Outlines Political Stances
In January 2019, Benny Gantz delivered his first major political speech, outlining his stances on key issues like Israeli settlements and the Golan Heights. He pledged to strengthen settlements and asserted that Israel would retain the Golan Heights.
February 2019: Gantz Faces Allegations and Denials
An Israeli-American woman accused Benny Gantz of indecent exposure in February 2019, claiming the incident occurred 40 years prior. Gantz vehemently denied the allegations, suggesting political motivations behind them.
February 2019: Gantz at the Munich Security Conference
During the February 2019 Munich Security Conference, Benny Gantz identified "extremist Iran, Islamic terror, and regional instability" as the West's primary challenges. He also criticized PM Netanyahu's decision to bar US Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from entering Israel.
February 2019: Formation of the Blue and White Alliance
In February 2019, Benny Gantz, along with leaders of other political parties like Yesh Atid, Telem, and former Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, formed the Blue and White alliance. A key feature of the alliance was a power-sharing agreement between Gantz and Yair Lapid, the leader of Yesh Atid.
April 2019: Israel Resilience Party Participates in Election
Benny Gantz's Israel Resilience Party, part of the Blue and White alliance, participated in the April 2019 election. Despite tying for the lead in seats, they lost by popular vote to Netanyahu's Likud.
April 2019: Blue and White's Platform and Election Results
The Blue and White alliance, in the April 2019 election, campaigned on a platform of political reforms, social investments, and renewed peace talks with Palestine. Despite a tie in seats with Likud, they lost the popular vote, leading to another election in September.
March 2020: Becomes Speaker of the Knesset
Benny Gantz served as the 17th Speaker of the Knesset from March 26, 2020 to May 17, 2020.
March 2020: September Election and Political Deadlock
The September election saw Blue and White secure a narrow victory, but political maneuvering and a fractured Knesset resulted in another deadlock. By December, a third election was called for March 2020, with Gantz becoming the sole PM candidate for Blue and White.
April 2020: Agrees to Rotation Government with Benjamin Netanyahu
In April 2020, Benny Gantz agreed to a rotation government agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where he would serve as Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Defense before succeeding Netanyahu.
May 2020: Concludes Role as Speaker of the Knesset
In May 2020, Benny Gantz's term as the 17th Speaker of the Knesset concluded.
November 2020: Gantz Launches Military Investigations
In November 2020, Benny Gantz initiated a military committee to investigate Case 3000, a corruption scandal related to submarine procurement. The committee faced obstacles due to restrictions imposed by the Attorney General, leading to the resignation of its members.
2020: Serves as Minister of Defense and Alternate Prime Minister
Benny Gantz served as the Minister of Defense from 2020 to 2022, and as the alternate prime minister from 2020 to 2021.
March 2021: Coalition Collapse and New Elections
In March 2021, the unity government between Gantz and Netanyahu collapsed primarily due to disagreements over budgetary deadlines. This political development triggered another round of elections.
April 2021: Gantz Appointed as Minister of Justice
Following a series of legal complications and political maneuvering, Benny Gantz was appointed as the Minister of Justice in April 2021. This appointment followed the resignation of the previous minister and legal challenges to Netanyahu's initial nominee.
May 2021: Operation Guardian of the Walls
As Minister of Defence, Benny Gantz oversaw Operation Guardian of the Walls, a military operation in the Gaza Strip that lasted from May 10 to May 21, 2021. The operation involved a series of airstrikes and ground operations, concluding with a ceasefire brokered by Egypt.
May 2021: Committee to Investigate Veterans' Treatment
Following a protest by an IDF veteran who set himself on fire, Gantz set up a second committee in May 2021 to investigate the treatment of military veterans. This highlighted the growing concerns and challenges faced by veterans.
October 2021: Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Designated as Terrorist Organizations
In October 2021, Gantz, as Defense Minister, designated six Palestinian human rights groups as terrorist organizations, citing their alleged connections to the PFLP. This decision was met with criticism and lacked public evidence as of April 2022.
October 2021: Unity Government and Rotation Agreement
In October 2021, as per the agreement, Gantz was set to take over as Prime Minister from Netanyahu. This power-sharing deal, formed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed to stabilize the political landscape.
November 2021: Historic Defense Agreements with Morocco and Bahrain
In a significant diplomatic move in November 2021, Gantz became the first Israeli Defense Minister to visit Morocco. During his visit, he signed a security cooperation agreement with the Moroccan government. He also signed a defense memorandum with Bahrain, marking a period of increased diplomatic engagement in the region.
November 2021: Coalition Collapses, Leading to New Election
The coalition government formed with Benjamin Netanyahu collapsed in November 2021, resulting in another election.
December 2021: Gantz Labels Iran a Threat
In December 2021, Benny Gantz declared the Islamic Republic of Iran as the most significant threat to peace and stability on both global and regional scales.
2021: Political Upheaval and New Government Formation
In 2021, Benny Gantz's Blue and White party won 8 seats in the Israeli elections. After a period of political negotiations, a unity government was formed with Naftali Bennett as Prime Minister and Yair Lapid as Alternate Prime Minister. Gantz remained Defense Minister and became a Deputy Prime Minister.
2021: Rotation Government Agreement and Reappointment as Defense Minister
In 2021, a rotation government agreement led to Benny Gantz serving as Alternate Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. Following the collapse of this coalition, Gantz was reappointed Defense Minister and became Deputy Prime Minister in the new Bennett-Lapid government in June 2021.
April 2022: Lack of Evidence Released for Terrorist Designations
As of April 2022, no public evidence had been released to support the designation of six Palestinian human rights groups as terrorist organizations by the Israeli Ministry of Defense under Gantz's leadership.
May 2022: Call to Designate Extremist Groups as Terrorist Organizations
Following incidents of violence and racist remarks directed at Palestinians during the Dance of Flags in May 2022, Gantz called for the extremist groups La Familia and Lehava to be designated as terrorist organizations.
June 2022: Dissolution of Knesset and Formation of National Unity Party
Following the dissolution of the Knesset in June 2022, Gantz formed an alliance with Gideon Sa'ar's New Hope party, initially called 'Blue and White-The New Hope'. The alliance, later renamed the National Unity Party, also included former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot and former Yamina MK Matan Kahana.
2022: Gantz Leads National Unity and Serves as Deputy Prime Minister
From 2021 to 2022, Benny Gantz served as deputy prime minister. In 2022, he became the leader of National Unity, a political party formed from the Israel Resilience Party and New Hope.
October 2023: Joining Netanyahu's War Cabinet
At the onset of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war in October 2023, Gantz agreed to join Benjamin Netanyahu's government temporarily, forming a war cabinet to address the conflict. He was sworn in as a minister without portfolio alongside four other members of his party.
October 2023: National Unity Forms War Cabinet with Likud
Following the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war in October 2023, the National Unity party, led by Benny Gantz, announced a war cabinet formation with Likud.
2023: Appointed Minister without Portfolio
In 2023, Benny Gantz was appointed as minister without portfolio in the thirty-seventh government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
May 2024: Threat of Resignation from War Cabinet
In May 2024, Gantz threatened to resign from the war cabinet if it did not adopt his proposals to end the ongoing war in Gaza, highlighting his stance on the conflict.
