Israel’s Gantz: Man on mission to beat Netanyahu

Jerusalem: Benny Gantz, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main challenger in Tuesday’s elections, is a respected former military chief who says he can restore honour to the premier’s office.
No previous political experience Gantz, a 60-year-old ex-paratrooper, had no previous political experience when he declared himself as Netanyahu’s electoral rival in December.
The head of the centrist Blue and White alliance has since presented himself as someone who can heal divisions in Israeli society, which he says have been exacerbated by Netanyahu.
For many of his supporters, he is the opposite of Netanyahu, though more in personality than in terms of policies, which the two share to a large degree, particularly on security.
His alliance and Netanyahu’s Likud each won 35 seats in April elections, but the premier was given the chance to form a coalition due to support from smaller right-wing and religious parties.
Netanyahu failed to do so and opted instead for another election, despite facing potential indictment for corruption.