Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has disbanded the Israeli war cabinet that was managing the conflict in Gaza.
This move appears to be an effort to assert greater control over decision-making related to the ongoing fighting with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah across the Lebanese border while sidelining his far-right allies who had been seeking positions in the cabinet.
Netanyahu communicated the dissolution to his ministers, explaining that the war cabinet had been established as part of a prior agreement involving the moderate politician Benny Gantz and his National Unity party, who joined an emergency coalition last year.
Israeli officials confirmed the disbanding of the war cabinet against a backdrop of increasing dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Gaza war and calls from anti-government groups for daily protests over the coming week.
David Mencer, a spokesperson for the prime minister’s office, stated that the war cabinet was a “prerequisite” for Gantz, a former army chief and defense minister, to join the unity government.
He further noted: “So with Mr. Gantz leaving government, there is no need for the cabinet. Its duties will be taken over by the security cabinet.”
Following Gantz’s resignation a week ago, Netanyahu reportedly informed ministers that the war cabinet was no longer necessary.
Gantz, along with Gadi Eisenkot, one of the three observers in the war cabinet, exited the coalition.
Netanyahu is now expected to consult on the Gaza war with a smaller group of ministers, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who were members of the war cabinet.
The dissolution is not anticipated to significantly impact the conflict, as decision-making will revert to the security cabinet.
However, the political ramifications are likely to be substantial. This move seems to be a direct rebuff to Netanyahu’s far-right allies in the coalition, such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who had sought a seat in the war cabinet after Gantz’s departure, complaining about being excluded from key decisions.
Hebrew-language media reports suggest Netanyahu plans to make key decisions with his advisors, excluding Ben-Gvir, before presenting them to the security cabinet.
The decision comes amid differing opinions between Netanyahu and senior Israel Defense Forces commanders.
Reports in the Israeli media indicated that Netanyahu told the full cabinet on Sunday, “in order to reach the goal of eliminating the capabilities of Hamas, [he had] made decisions that were not always acceptable to the military echelon,” but emphasized:
“We have a country with an army and not an army with a country.”
Netanyahu’s actions indicate increasing confidence as his poll numbers have risen since Gantz’s departure, which has seen Gantz’s polling decline sharply.
Despite pressure from the Biden administration to maintain the war cabinet, viewed as a more moderate forum, some analysts interpret the move as Netanyahu’s intent to continue the conflict while sidelining Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
The war cabinet had been a source of tension between Netanyahu and other members, particularly over hostages held in Gaza by Hamas and other groups.
Nevertheless, it had functioned effectively, holding numerous meetings since Hamas’s surprise attack on southern Israel’s Gaza border communities on October 7.
In the wake of the war cabinet’s dissolution, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth speculated that key decisions might now be handled by an expanded cabinet, sometimes comprising up to 50 participants, where more hawkish voices prevail, providing Netanyahu with greater political cover for the ongoing conflict.
Groups opposed to Netanyahu’s war leadership have initiated a week of daily demonstrations calling for a ceasefire, a deal to secure the release of hostages, and elections.
While wartime demonstrations against the prime minister have not reached the scale of pre-war protests, the weekly demonstration in Tel Aviv on Saturday drew a larger crowd than usual.
Attendees heard a recorded message from recently rescued hostage Andrey Kozlov, who urged the government to negotiate for the release of the remaining captives.
“Nearly every Saturday night [his captors in Gaza] showed us rallies from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. I didn’t count how many people were there but we saw many,” Kozlov said.
Zablon Mokua’s Nomination To East African Court Of Justice Blocked
