Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has been facing a lot of strife lately, both internally and internationally, due to the war in Gaza. An Israeli source confirmed on Monday that Netanyahu has disbanded his war cabinet, a move precipitated by the departure of Benny Gantz, who was a member of the cabinet until he left Netanyahu’s coalition government.
Netanyahu is now expected to hold consultations about the Gaza war with a small group of ministers, including Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who had been part of the war cabinet.
The prime minister had faced demands from the nationalist-religious partners in his coalition, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, to be included in the war cabinet, a move which would have intensified strains with international partners, including the United States.
The war cabinet was formed after Gantz joined Netanyahu in a national unity government at the start of the war in October and also included Gantz’s partner Gadi Eisenkot and Aryeh Deri, head of the religious party Shas, as observers.
Gantz and Eisenkot both left the government last week, citing Netanyahu’s failure to form a clear strategy for the Gaza war as their reason for departure.
Why It Matters
The disbandment of the war cabinet comes at a critical juncture in Israel’s conflict with Hamas. Internal discord and political instability could hamper Israel’s strategic planning and execution in the Gaza war. The departure of Benny Gantz and other key figures from Netanyahu’s coalition government underscores the fractures within the Israeli leadership, potentially weakening its position both domestically and on the international stage. This internal turmoil may affect Israel’s ability to garner support from crucial allies, including the United States, and could impact the overall effectiveness of its military and political strategy in the Gaza conflict.
Bottom Line
At a critical juncture in the war with Hamas, Israel’s internal political strife presents a significant obstacle. The fallout with Benny Gantz and other key supporters of Netanyahu’s government poses a setback for Israel, potentially hindering its ability to effectively advance in the Gaza conflict. This instability underscores the challenges faced by the Israeli government in maintaining a unified front, both domestically and in its international relations.
