Israeli War Cabinet member Benny Gantz announced Wednesday his centrist National Unity party has introduced a bill to dissolve the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, which would trigger an early election.
It is unclear when lawmakers might vote on the bill, which requires a majority vote to pass. Israeli law stipulates there cannot be another vote for six months if the motion fails.
Is this a “normal” thing in Parliamentary countries or is this a fascist power grab?
I don’t think this is a fascist power grab. Benny Gantz is a centrist and a one of the main opposition leaders to Netanyahu.
This part is pretty well documented and agreed upon by political experts:
He’s been loudly advocating for a “day after plan” for the War in Gaza, i.e. what is the actual plan for Israels invasion and what are we going to do when it’s done? The day after plan is something Netanyahu has refused to provide. Many speculate that he hasn’t provided it because his plan is full occupation of Gaza and making it fully part of the Israeli state.
This part is conjecture and maybe wishful thinking on my part:
Netanyahu refuses to end the war so that he can stay in power. I think that Gantz recognizes the great international harm that the invasion of Gaza has done to Israel, which will only get worse until the invasion is over and Israel withdraws from Gaza. Gantz sees this as an opportunity make himself prime minister, end the invasion, and start some sort of peace process. This would allow him to start rebuilding Israels reputation and finding ways to establish a more stable peace.
That might be more than wishful thinking. Gantz has personally overseen the invasion of Gaza twice, and he joined the war cabinet right after 10/7. He is definitely no friend to Gaza.
Calling him a centrist is only true in that he’s slightly left of Bibi, which is saying nothing.
He doesn’t want to leave Gaza for Gaza’s sake, he wants to leave Gaza cause he views the current invasion as harmful to Israel.
Are you asking if motion for new elections from a centrist politician is a facist power grab?
The term “dissolve the parliament” is foreign to my American ears. I didn’t realize it just meant time for elections.
Yes, having an election is a normal thing in a democracy.