As the coalition partners continue to wrangle over the matter of the state budget, Blue and White leader and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz warned on Tuesday that "the clock is running out" to resolve the budget issue without an election.
While on a tour of Jerusalem, Gantz said, "The hourglass is running out, no one knows when the last grain of sand will drop, but we are really on the verge. If we don't pass a budget and don't have a functioning government, it looks like we'll go to elections."
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"Elections are not something we want. We joined the government to prevent that. If two conditions are met, there won't be an election, if not, it looks like there will be," Gantz said.
An hour earlier, in a speech to the Knesset plenum, Gantz said, "We're talking loftily about peace with countries in our region. Now it's time to talk about peace among ourselves. The citizens of Israel are watching us, asking the government to reconcile, asking for a functioning government that will serve them during the worst crisis that has befallen us in recent decades, [asking for] a government with permanent officials, a long-term economic plan, in which people work together."
Addressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly, Gantz added, "You know very well that I extended my hand to you, despite difficulties. I did so in order to fight COVID and to avoid the risk of a civil war. I joined you as a partner in the battle for the health, lives, and livelihoods of the citizens of Israel, and not as a partner in an economic and social crime against them.
"You and I both know very well that the Treasury already has a budget for 2021 nearly ready, and I will not lend my hand to keeping it from the people of Israel. We both know that the clock is running out. You have the ability to avoid an economic and social disaster and do the right thing for the citizens of Israel," Gantz said.
A senior Likud official said in response to Gantz's comments that "Blue and White are dragging Israel into a needless election. Instead of showing responsibility, uniting in the fight against COVID, and saving lives, Blue and White continues to run a government within the government. Blue and White and trampling all over the coalition agreement on the matter of appointments and refusing to accept [MK Zvi] Hauser's compromise on the budget, which could be passed within two weeks. It's time for Blue and White to work on behalf of the people, not the polls."
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