Gantz: Israeli Generals Seek Peace the Most

Benny Gantz | Photo: EPA
Benny Gantz | Photo: EPA
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Gantz: Israeli Generals Seek Peace the Most

Benny Gantz | Photo: EPA
Benny Gantz | Photo: EPA

“I spent about 38 years fighting in the Israeli army. And believe me, the generals in the army, who have seen and experienced the horrors of war, are the ones who want peace the most,” said Israel's Defense Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Gantz tackled a multitude of questions about peace in the Middle East and revealed that he had already been to a majority of Arab states with clandestine visits as part of his military service and said he would love to go on an official tour.

On the issue of Jerusalem, Gantz stressed that he "believes in the full equality for Arab citizens and their participation in government," and that the city must remain undivided.

He, however, noted that there will be room for a Palestinian capital.

“Jerusalem must stay united, but it will have place for a Palestinian capital,” he said. “It's a vast city, filled with sites that are holy to all of us.”

“We want the Palestinians to have a suitable geographical extension that enables them to lead a comfortable life without obstacles,” he explained.

Gantz also said that he does not see peace in the Middle East without settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict first. The centrist leader added that Israel will not withdraw to pre-1967 borders but the sides can reach a compromise.

Speaking on the subject of peacemaking and normalization of ties between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, Gantz said that the Palestinians must remain actively involved.

"I want Palestinians to be part of the peace process. The push for normalization within the Arab world is a great and real opportunity," he said.

He warned against what he called the "Iranian axis" in the region, saying it posed a threat for both Israel and Arab states and pointing at countries like Syria and Lebanon as examples of its corruptive influence.

These days, Gantz is fighting a bitter battle with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that could topple the government and lead to early elections.

Early elections can prove detrimental for the Blue and White centrist party which is led by Gantz.

Despite the ruinous prospects for the party, Gantz is being pressured into rejecting Netanyahu’s conditions and exiting the government.

It is worth noting that the interview with Gantz took place in his office at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv and at the height of the tug-of-war going on between him and Netanyahu.

Both, Netanyahu and Gantz were hoping for the other to make concessions before time ran out and they were faced with unwanted early elections.

Gantz, for his part, predicted that the status quo will remain the same given that Netanyahu is showing no willingness whatsoever to settle disputes.

He considered running in the elections a “matter of national responsibility.”

Even though prospects are dim for the Blue and White party, Gantz sounded optimistic about the tables turning.

“Twenty percent of the electorate has not decided how to vote. I believe that we will get a third of them, and that we will take back a portion of the voters who left us,” he noted.

When asked about Israel’s economic and political stability, Gantz said he doesn’t believe that it was in danger.



Ukrainian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia: Our Top Priority is Energy Support

The 11th Saudi relief plane operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) arrived in Poland in Friday ahead of heading to Ukraine. (SPA)
The 11th Saudi relief plane operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) arrived in Poland in Friday ahead of heading to Ukraine. (SPA)
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Ukrainian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia: Our Top Priority is Energy Support

The 11th Saudi relief plane operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) arrived in Poland in Friday ahead of heading to Ukraine. (SPA)
The 11th Saudi relief plane operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) arrived in Poland in Friday ahead of heading to Ukraine. (SPA)

Ukrainian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Anatolii Petrenko, stressed that his country’s “top priority is energy support in multiple ways,” pointing to preparatory measures between Saudi Arabia and Ukraine concerning a Saudi aid package, most of which consists of energy equipment.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Petrenko said that the Kingdom has been assisting Ukrainian civilians since the early days of the “full-scale Russian invasion,” as he described it. He said Saudi aid “has helped provide decent living conditions for our people, who have been forced by the war to relocate to safe areas within the country. It has also helped us maintain citizens' access to medical services and sustain social infrastructure.”
The ambassador emphasized the difficult period Ukraine is facing due to “energy shortages caused by regular Russian attacks on critical infrastructure,” which previously ensured daily needs for urban and municipal areas. He expressed concern about the approaching winter season and the severe drop in temperatures across the country.
Petrenko pointed to the need for energy resources, as well as access to light, water and heat, to enable the Ukrainian agricultural sector to continue contributing to global and regional food security.
He expressed his country’s firm belief in the importance of Saudi Arabia’s support to bring energy self-sufficiency in Ukraine, presently and in the long term.”
He added: “Through our united efforts, we can enhance the green energy agenda by smartly utilizing diverse renewable energy sources as key resources that can give us complete energy independence.”
The Ukrainian ambassador described the Saudi friendship as “an Arab generosity.” He noted that both Ukraine and the Kingdom were jointly studying “the latest innovations and sustainable technologies, such as combined heat and power plants and piston turbines, which could offset energy losses in various regions of Ukraine and thus prevent humanitarian crises in the winter season for hundreds of thousands of people.”
On the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day, Petrenko stated that his country “stands firmly to celebrate another anniversary of its independence, while appreciating the immense contributions and aid provided by international partners and friends, including Saudi Arabia, which holds a prominent position in leading humanitarian efforts in the region and encourages others to follow the same approach.”
“This represents a success story that will open a new chapter in energy resilience, which helps us achieve national independence,” he underlined.
The ambassador added that Ukraine highly values its bilateral relations with the Kingdom.
“On behalf of my country, I express my gratitude to Saudi Arabia, both the government and the people, for everything they are doing to alleviate the humanitarian challenges facing civilians today,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Riyadh continues to send planes carrying tons of humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRELIEF).
This follows an agreement and memorandum of understanding signed by both sides last year, which included providing an additional humanitarian aid package to Ukraine amounting to $400 million, as well as emergency medical and shelter aid valued at $10 million for refugees from Ukraine to neighboring countries, particularly Poland, in coordination with the Polish government and UN organizations.