Ben-Gvir attacks Yoav Gallant in session, says he needs to be handled

By Al Mayadeen English
17 Mar 2024 17:37
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In the most recent dispute in the Israeli war cabinet, Itamar Ben-Gvir calls on Benjamin Netanyahu to properly control Yoav Gallant.

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrives for a weekly cabinet meeting, at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023 (AP)

Israeli media reported incidents of "heated confrontation" during a session within the Israeli Cabinet.

According to the Israeli Srugim website, Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attacked Security Minister Yoav Gallant's attitude and behavior, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "handle him".

"You are Gallant's superior," Ben-Gvir angrily told Netanyahu, adding "It is insane that he gets to do whatever he wants. You are his prime minister, handle him."

Tensions between Gallant and Netanyahu have been on the rise, Israeli media had reported on multiple occasions.

Earlier today, Yoav Gallant, held an alternate meeting with the heads of Israeli security and military apparatuses after Netanyahu refused to convene the war cabinet on Saturday night, according to Israeli media outlets.

Headlining the meeting's agenda was the prisoner exchange file, as participants were informed of intel regarding a possible prisoner exchange deal. Top security and military officials, alongside members of the Israeli negotiating envoy, discussed the proposals presented by the Israeli side during mediated talks with the Palestinian Resistance. Their focus centered on the obstacles hindering the finalization of a deal.

Netanyahu had refused to convene a meeting of the Israeli war cabinet, which is experiencing continuous turmoil as a result of strategic and in-house disputes. The Israeli Prime Minister has been accused of sidelining members of the war cabinet when it comes to crucial decisions and positions such as the prisoner exchange file.

This most recent news adds to evidence of such claims, as Netanyahu denied Gallant, as an essential member of the war cabinet and the larger coalition government, from going over the file with other members of the war cabinet and top Israeli officials.

Netanyahu eyes dissolving war cabinet

On the other hand, Netanyahu is considering the possibility of abolishing the war cabinet and referring decisions to an expanded coalition government, according to Israeli media outlets.

Israeli authorities consolidated a crucial decision-making process in a five-member council that includes Netanyahu, Security Minister Yoav Gallant, the "National Unity" leaders Benny Gantz and Gadi Eizenkot, and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, dubbed the war cabinet.

Although Gantz and Eizenkot, among other popular Israeli politicians, continued a major part of the Israeli opposition to the larger coalition government, the leaders of the "National Unity" movement put their differences with Netanyahu aside and joined efforts to launch the genocidal aggression on the Gaza Strip.

However, the war cabinet has been plagued with squabbles on multiple strategic and in-house disputes, the latest of which was Gantz's unauthorized visit to the US and other Western countries.