Friday Jul 18, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home News Israel

In future, Israel will be 'between Gedera and Hadera,' defense minister warns

In a closed portion of a Blue and White faction meeting last week, Defense Minister Benny Gantz responded to a viral WhatsApp message written by anonymous, allegedly Arab elements threatening to take control of the country.

by  Yehuda Shlezinger
Published on  05-16-2022 09:00
Last modified: 05-16-2022 09:00
In future, Israel will be 'between Gedera and Hadera,' defense minister warnsOren Ben Hakoon

Defense Minister Benny Gantz | Photo: Oren Ben Hakoon

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Palestinian flag march, rampant crime in Arab society, and the demographic surge in the north and the south are now on the national agenda, leading the defense minister of the State of Israel to deliver an apocalyptic message regarding the future of the Jewish state.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

In the closed portion of a Blue and White faction meeting last week, Defense Minister Benny Gantz read a WhatsApp message that had gone viral across the country, containing threats by anonymous, allegedly Arab elements to take control of the country. Gantz didn't have any comforting news to share, quite the opposite. In his words, the authors of the message were correct, and the future of the Jewish state could ultimately end "between Gedera and Hadera."

Gantz read the message aloud, which said: "Keep cursing; you have no chance against allah [god, in Arabic]. Slowly but surely we are taking bites out of your state. What will you do? This is Palestinian territory in actuality, and the moment one tractor comes – we will use the left-wing organizations such as 'Peace Now' and 'B'Tselem,' who will go to the country's true ruler (the High Court of Justice) to issue an injunction. We will send children and teenagers to throw stones and barricade themselves in until you scatter away like mice."

The defense minister continued reading: "The Galilee, with the grace of allah, will also be ours soon. We are buying one dunam [0.2 acres] from the [Israel Land Authority] for 50,000 shekels [$14,677] while the Jew buys [one dunam] for 1,150,000 shekels [$337,577]. Already today we are 85% of the Galilee population and are quickly seizing control, building homes in every corner without permits. Who's going to do anything about it? The Jews who live in the Galilee – all flee to the center of the country because they suffer from harassment, violence on the roads, protection, shootings, theft, and robbery.

"The government tells you the Galilee and Negev are Jewish; I tell you that in reality, this is Palestinian territory. Any new business in the Negev is paying us a protection tax, every neighborhood that is built won't be built without paying protection," the message concluded.

While Gantz understood that it was unclear who the author of the message was, its substance was disconcerting nonetheless. According to the defense minister, the person or people who wrote the message were not wrong.

"This isn't far from the reality," Gantz said at the meeting. "I believe that in a few more years we'll be in a situation where the Jewish state will be between Gedera and Hadera. We are a few years away from this," he claimed.

A spokesman for the defense minister said in a statement: "Without getting into what was said in a closed-door meeting, the defense minister has said many times that Israel must be looked at through the vision of decades forward and that a [special] authority must be established to help Israel must prepare for half of its population to live in the Negev and Galilee. There's supreme importance in maintaining the law and order in the south and north, giving equal treatment, developing all the populations in terms of employment opportunities, improving infrastructure, education, and health."

At Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, meanwhile, Gantz accused Prime Minister Naftali Bennett of not giving his ministers enough credit. The defense minister said he was angry because most of Bennett's speech at the beginning of the meeting focused on security matters, and yet the prime minister didn't mention Gantz at all. Bennett, for his part, responded that he regularly compliments his ministers.

"Many people deserve credit for the work the government is doing, but when the cameras were on you only talk about 'me, me, and me,'" Gantz told him. I'm in the room and you are treating me as if I'm the welfare minister. You should have mentioned me," he said.

Welfare and Social Affairs Minister Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid) meanwhile, took offense to Gantz's comments, saying, "It's infuriating. Disrespecting the job of the welfare minister is the same as disrespecting the citizens of Israel."

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Related Posts

Israeli-Druze leadership warns of border crossing into Syria Gideon Markowicz

Israeli-Druze leadership warns of border crossing into Syria 

by Michel Makhoul

The Druze leadership in Israel, headed by spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, has declared days of mourning and a general...

US ambassador's surprise court appearance in Netanyahu trialCourtesy

US ambassador's surprise court appearance in Netanyahu trial

by Shirit Avitan Cohen

Speaking at the MUNI EXPO 2025 Local Government Center conference regarding Netanyahu's trial, Huckabee observed "This matter is highly sensitive....

US ambassador calls Palestinian's death 'terrorist act'JOHN WESSELS / AFP; Oren Ben Hakoon

US ambassador calls Palestinian's death 'terrorist act'

by Erez Linn

Mike Huckabee says killing of Florida man a "murder,' says he has "aggressively" asked Israel to investigate his death in...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il