The public outcry and political uproar over Habayit Hayehudi leader Rafi Peretz statement regarding his support for gay "conversion therapy" revealed not only the depth of the disagreement in Israeli society with regard to the LGBTQ community but also the chasm that apparently exists behind the scenes between the leaders of the Blue and White faction.
This is not an easy observation to make. In fact, the unbalanced response by Israel Resilience Party head Benny Gantz, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, and Telem's Moshe Ya'alon and Gabi Ashkenazi to Peretz's remarks exposed the differences of opinion between the four – it's no longer about whether they should join a Netanyahu-led coalition (contrary to past pledges), rather whether they should join any coalition that includes ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Sunday that he found Peretz's remarks "unacceptable," stressing they "do not reflect the position of my government," but that didn't stop Lapid from berating the prime minister over the fact that he only demanded clarifications from Peretz and did not fire him immediately.
Gantz, on the other hand, lambasted Peretz for his remarks, but in the same breath defended him as an individual who "loves his fellow man." Ashkenazi stated that Peretz was "unfit to be the education minister," and Ya'alon chose to remain mum.
The Likud is aware of the discord within Blue and White and has apparently made a strategic decision is to avoid lashing out at Gantz, aiming instead at Lapid and former PM Ehud Barak, who recently joined the electoral race.
Despite previous statements to the contrary, Gantz hasn't made a clear election campaign promise not to join a Netanyahu-led government, and insiders in both parties say that if it comes down to each party securing less then the necessary 61-MK coalition without Yisrael Beytenu, Gantz will join the Netanyahu government, without Lapid of course, and save the country a potential third election in the same year.
Lapid, who firmly opposes it, understand where the wind is blowing and is working to prevent it with a series of harsh and binding statements. Gantz, who plans to break free from Lapid as soon as he can, is already fighting back.
If this is so obvious to all, why don't Lapid and Gantz go their separate ways now? Gantz may still be hesitant as he is new to politics. Lapid, for his part, knows that he only has a handful of political opportunities. The possibility of Gantz's party joining forces with Barak's party and an indecisive Avigdor Lieberman could spell a post-election single-digit reality for Yesh Atid in terms of Knesset seats. Lapid would like for Blue and White to hang in there just a few more months – so he can tear it apart himself.
