Netanyahu Dissolves War Cabinet, Ceasefire Proposals at Risk
Image Credit: The News Indian Express
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disbanded his war cabinet, a move that not only puts the possibility of a ceasefire at heavy risk, but also consolidates his power over the war in itself. The dissolution of the six-member cabinet came days after Israeli centrist minister Benny Gantz’s resignation from the parliament.
Gantz, a retired general and member of parliament, was perceived as the more moderate voice in the group. Henceforth, major war policies would be undertaken by Netanyahu and a small group of ministers, including Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer who had been in the war cabinet. The larger security cabinet is known to be dominated by hard-liners who oppose the ceasefire deal backed by the US and want to allow the war to continue on.
The move was announced after US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein paid a visit to Jerusalem, seeking to calm the situation at the Israel-Lebanon border, as fighting with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia continues to grow and threatens to spread into a wider conflict. The Israeli military said it had killed a senior operative in one of Hezbollah’s rocket and missile sections on Monday in Selaa, an area in southern Lebanon.
Moreover, the military also claimed that these operations were being continued in the southern parts of the Gaza Strip, where its forces have been engaging in continued fighting with Hamas militants. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from the so-called Blue Line that divides both the countries, leaving clumps of deserted villages and abandoned farms to be destroyed by near-daily bombardment. According to government spokesperson David Mencer, “the current state of affairs is not a sustainable reality.”
The war cabinet was formed as a response to the attacks on October 7, after Gantz joined Netanyahu in a show of unity during the war. It also included Gantz’s other political allies who would join the forum as observers. Last week, both Gantz and his allies left the cabinet accusing Netanyahu of failing to possess an effective strategy for the war in Gaza.
Gantz also accused Netanyahu of drawing out the war to postpone new elections and a corruption trial. He said that important strategic decisions to be made by the cabinet were “met with hesitancy and procrastination due to political considerations.”
The disbanding of the cabinet would only further deepen the distance between ultra-nationalists and centrists who seek a ceasefire deal. In the current situation, an agreement for a complete halt in all assaults at Gaza seems far-off.
Widespread protests all across the country call for new elections, whilst attacking the government for not doing enough to bring back the 120 hostages who are held captive in Gaza. By sundown, a crowd of thousands gathered around Knesset, Israel’s parliament, before marching to Netanyahu’s private home. There was a significant clash with the police, as some protestors tried to break through barriers and were pushed back by the police.
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