Weekly Commentary: The Nation Deserves a Serious Netanyahu-Gantz Policy
Debate
Dr. Aaron Lerner February 20, 2020

It does not matter why Mr. Netanyahu decided to propose a series of debates.
The point is that the Israeli electorate deserve the opportunity to watch a
serious policy debate between Netanyahu and Gantz before they vote.

And I mean policy debate.

Not 60 minutes of Mr. Gantz repeating like a broken record that Netanyahu
cannot run the country and manage his defense in court at the same time with
Mr. Netanyahu responding by citing Gantz’s dirty laundry.

And there is a lot to talk about.

Benny Gantz argues that Israel should not apply sovereignty over the Jordan
Valley without Jordan's consent. Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will apply
sovereignty once the American-Israeli team prepares the detailed “vision”
map.

This difference in position stems from profound differences in their
assessments of the strategic importance of applying sovereignty versus the
potentially negative consequences of such a move.

I would also expect a debate to find the candidates drawn to clarify what
kind of Palestinian entity they could accept and their vision of the extent
that it is integrated with Israel.

Of course there is a lot more to talk about: economic policy, religion-state
and other pressing concerns.

A debate would make an important contribution to the democratic process by
inducing the electorate to think about the positions of the candidates
before casting their vote.

Shame on Mr. Gantz if he denies the nation this opportunity.

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