JERUSALEM
The chairman of Israel’s Blue and White party Benny Gantz was elected Thursday to be the next speaker of the Israeli parliament.
Gantz's was appointed by Knesset members in a 74 - 11 vote.
Speaker Yuli Edelstein submitted his resignation Wednesday after the Supreme Court ordered a vote Thursday.
Gantz was the Knesset member to submit his candidacy for the position.
His candidacy won support from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc, but was opposed on the left and within his own party.
Gantz was quoted by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper as saying, “Israeli democracy not be negotiated," in