Just a week after Gantz resignation, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the Israeli war cabinet which had been overseeing the war in Gaza, on Monday June 17.
Netanyahu’s decision has rebuffed his far-right allies who had been seeking seats in the cabinet, apparently moving to solidify his grasp on decision-making over the fighting with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah across the Lebanese border.
Consultations is now expected to be held about Gaza war with only a small group of ministers, including the war minister, Yoav Gallant, and the strategic affairs minister, Ron Dermer, who had been in the war cabinet.
Netanyahu announced the move to ministers, saying the war cabinet had been established as part of an agreement in which the moderate politician Benny Gantz and his national unity party joined an emergency coalition last year.
According to reports in the Israeli media on Monday, Netanyahu told the regular Sunday meeting of the full cabinet that “in order to reach the goal of eliminating the capabilities of Hamas, [he had] made decisions that were not always acceptable to the military echelon”, but added: “We have a country with an army and not an army with a country.”
His remarks came a day after Israeli military announced a tactical pause along Rafah main Salah a-Dine road as to facilitate the flow aid into Gaza in response to US Biden call to increase humanitairian aid to the enclave. The military’s move has broadened the spat between the Netanyahu’s coalition and the military.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should dissolve the Israeli government, following the leader’s decision to disband the war cabinet after the resignation of key opposition figure Benny Gantz.
Lapid applauded Gantz’s decision as “important and correct”.
“The time has come to replace this extreme and reckless government with a sane government that will lead to the return of security to the citizens of Israel, to the return of the abducted, to the restoration of Israel’s economy and international status,” he added.
Lapid, who has emerged as a key figure in the antigovernment protests, has urged the government to secure a hostage release deal with Hamas and repeatedly called for Netanyahu’s resignation.
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