Benjamin Netanyahu disbands Israel’s war cabinet after centrist members resign

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the war cabinet he formed in the wake of the October 7 attack by Hamas after two of its five members resigned.

The body, headed by Netanyahu, has been overseeing Israel’s war in Gaza for the past eight months. However, its dissolution has been anticipated since the resignation last week of Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, two moderate politicians who joined Netanyahu’s coalition.

Following their departures, national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich – ultra-nationalists whose stances often drew harsh criticism from allies of Israel, including the US – asked to be admitted to the war cabinet.

But according to Israeli officials, Netanyahu will instead hold meetings in smaller forums to discuss sensitive issues. The broader security cabinet, which includes Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, will also continue to address war-related issues, officials said.

Gantz and Eisenkot demanded the formation of a war cabinet, which also included defense minister Yoav Gallant and strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer, as a condition for joining Netanyahu’s emergency government last year.

This arrangement is designed to sideline Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, who have repeatedly demanded a more aggressive approach to the war in Gaza as well as the reestablishment of Israeli settlements in the enclave. of the Palestinians.

They also oppose concessions that would allow a deal to release Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.

While the entry of Gantz – a long-time opponent of Netanyahu – into the war cabinet quickly brought unity to Israeli politics, in recent months he and Eisenkot have become increasingly critical of the conduct of the war of Netanyahu.

Gantz accused Israel’s prime minister, who depends on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich’s party for a majority in parliament, of allowing decisions regarding the war to be influenced by narrow political calculations.

Tensions peaked earlier this month when Gantz pulled his National Unity coalition out of the emergency government and resigned from the war cabinet after Netanyahu ignored his demands for a series of political changes. books, including planning for the aftermath of war. .

Eisenkot said he and Gantz left the government after the war cabinet was “infiltrated” by “ulterior motives and political considerations”, and described Ben-Gvir as a “replacement prime minister”. .

Netanyahu’s office on Saturday accused the pair of lying, insisting the prime minister only makes decisions based on Israel’s national security needs.