Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has disbanded the war cabinet in response to his rival Benny Gantz pulling out. This move comes as far-right ministers seek to join the war cabinet, potentially shifting Israeli politics further to the right.
The war cabinet was initially formed on October 11th after Israel declared war on Gaza following a Hamas-led attack on October 7th. It was meant to make quick decisions on wartime strategies.
Disagreements and tensions within the war cabinet led to its dissolution, with Gantz and Observer Eisenkot quitting due to the lack of post-war plans. Netanyahu plans to replace the war cabinet with a smaller “kitchen cabinet” for consultations.
Critically, the departure of Gantz and Eisenkot has increased pressure on hard-right politicians Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, who may not now be able to join the new cabinet. Their extreme positions on Gaza and settlements could undermine Israel’s international relations.
The future of Israeli politics remains uncertain as Netanyahu navigates this change in leadership and attempts to maintain stability within his coalition government.