Tel Aviv, Israel – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the six-member war Cabinet, a move that was widely anticipated following the departure of one of his key rivals, the centrist former general Benny Gantz, from the emergency government.
Netanyahu has informed ministers that he will hold sensitive consultations in a smaller forum known as “the kitchen cabinet.” This decision comes after facing demands from ultranationalist ministers in his coalition to include them in the war Cabinet, a move that could have strained relations with international partners, including the United States.
The war Cabinet was initially formed after Gantz joined Netanyahu in a national unity government following Hamas’ attacks on Israel on Oct.7. The forum also included Gantz’s partner Gadi Eisenkot and Aryeh Deri, head of the religious party Shas, as observers.
Gantz and Eisenkot left the government last week, citing Netanyahu’s failure to develop a strategy for the war, which has been ongoing for eight months. Netanyahu, who had been criticized for security failures leading up to the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, has been leveraging his disputes with President Joe Biden to gain political support.
Recent polling shows Netanyahu’s Likud party gaining popularity over Gantz’s National Unity Party, leading to pressure on Gantz from within his own party. The conflict has resulted in a significant number of casualties, with more than 37,000 people killed in Gaza and around 1,200 killed and 250 taken hostage during the initial attacks by Hamas.
Netanyahu recently met with Amos Hochstein, a White House official working on easing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. The U.S. and France are collaborating on a negotiated settlement to the hostilities along Lebanon’s southern border, where the threat of escalation remains high.
The Israeli military has raised concerns about increased cross-border fire from the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, warning of a potential escalation in conflict along the northern border. Hezbollah’s actions have already led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from communities in northern Israel and caused displacement in Lebanon.
Despite recent tensions, there was a decrease in Hezbollah fire, while Israel conducted airstrikes against the group in southern Lebanon. The situation remains volatile, with Hezbollah insisting on continued fire unless Israel halts its offensive in Gaza.