Netanyahu disbands war cabinet

According to an Israeli official, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved the six-member war cabinet on Monday. This move was expected after the centrist former general Benny Gantz left the government.

Netanyahu is now expected to consult on the Gaza war with a smaller group of ministers. This group includes Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who were part of the war cabinet, as reported by Reuters.

The prime minister faced pressure from his coalition’s nationalist-religious partners. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demanded inclusion in the war cabinet. This inclusion could have strained relationships with international partners like the United States.

The war cabinet was initially formed when Gantz joined Netanyahu in a national unity government at the beginning of the war in October. The forum also included Gantz’s partner Gadi Eisenkot, and Aryeh Deri, the head of the religious party Shas, as observers.

Last week, Gantz and Eisenkot left the government. They cited Netanyahu’s failure to form a clear strategy for the Gaza war as their reason for departure.

Netanyahu’s decision to dissolve the war cabinet follows these departures and internal coalition pressures. The prime minister aims to streamline war consultations to a smaller, more focused group of ministers.

This move is part of Netanyahu’s effort to maintain stability within his coalition while addressing the ongoing conflict. The departure of Gantz and Eisenkot reflects broader frustrations within the government about handling the war.

As Netanyahu continues to navigate these challenges, the focus remains on forming an effective strategy for the Gaza conflict and managing domestic and international expectations.

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