Commotion and divides conquer the Israeli War Cabinet: WSJ
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A recent article shows how Israeli cabinet members strategize to topple one another and highlight the unfolding trouble Netanyahu has been facing.
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In this March. 11, 2021 file photo, an election campaign billboard for the Blue and White party, the opposition party led by Benny Gantz, right, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, hangs on a street in "Tel Aviv" (AP)
Tensions have only been on the rise since Benny Gantz and Benjamin Netanyahu demonstrated their dispute in the Israeli War Cabinet after Gantz coordinated a visit to Washington without governmental approval, the Wall Street Journal reported.
"Israel only has one prime minister", Netanyahu said, however, he was still disregarded by Gantz who made his way to Washington and met with US Vice President Kamala Harris.
The WSJ's most recent piece on the situation in the war cabinet, it was analyzed that the incident reflects more on the commotion in the cabinet, as members rush to mount the political ladder, overstep, argue over how to proceed with the war, and altercate over the prisoner exchange deal. This is accompanied by international pressure that is urging the Israeli occupation to establish a ceasefire and end the aggression on Gaza.
The agglomerate of political power in Cabinet includes Gantz, Netanyahu, and Yoav Gallant, three rivals that have united to wage war against Gaza. However, as the war drags on, each of them transpires to work based on what they deem fit, independent of the cabinet itself.
Gallant has recently suggested the legislation and conscription of Haredi Jews, a religious community exempt from military service, into the Israeli occupation forces. The move has been regarded as a major step in overthrowing Netanyahu's coalition that widely relies on two ultraorthodox parties.
Therefore, Gantz meeting with US officials, while they expressed their growing frustration with Netanyahu's policies and decisions, and during all this commotion, further fueled the feud.
On Monday, Gantz met with Harris and other top officials from the Biden administration and is set to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday. Both parties discussed the genocide in Gaza, the protection of Palestinians ahead of the invasion of Rafah, and further normalization of ties between "Israel" and countries in the region.
He had also been in contact with international leaders, prominently Arab officials, a move considered a reflection of the international community's distrust in Netanyahu.
Gantz is generally highly regarded in the US, which is why he was the trusted party to bridge the gap between "Israel" and the US created by the war on Gaza. For example, the US airdropped humanitarian relief aid over Gaza, a move signifying the growing misunderstandings with "Israel".
However, Gantz and Gallant's suggestions to the war cabinet were strategized to get the approval from their respective parties but rejected by Netanyahu. As the Cabinet moves to draft the Haredim Netanyahu finds himself at the center of trouble.
The aim, according to the cabinet members' associates, is not to topple Netanyahu, but to leave a mark on the government as the fate of Gaza remains unknown, and "Israel" faces the threat of war with Hezbollah on the northern front.
Read more: 53% of Israelis believe Netanyahu is extending war to stay in power
The fall of Benjamin Netanyahu
Former Israeli Security Minister Avigdor Lieberman had stated that Netanyahu's government has reached its demise.
Speaking with the Israeli Occupation's Army Radio on Sunday, Lieberman predicted that war cabinet member, Benny Gantz, would declare its end.
Lieberman stressed that Israeli settlers have given Netanyahu's government confidence for 5 months during the Israeli war on Gaza but "this is over now" as the occupation has failed to achieve its goals, specifically that of "destroying Hamas."
These failures have ignited several internal conflicts between Israeli officials on different liability issues, in parallel with many protests in "Tel Aviv" urging the occupation government to opt for the captives deal.
Former Deputy Chairman of the occupation's "National Security Council", Eran Etzion, confirmed that Netanyahu's government has been "lying" as no "military solutions" can solve the settlers' problems in the North or the South.
Speaking with Israeli Channel 13, he added that it is no coincidence that Netanyahu's government has not solved "the issue of Hamas" in Gaza for five months since October 7 stressing that the latter is due to "failed administration".
