Israeli war cabinet strife undermining military strategy: WSJ

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
16 Jan 2024 23:45
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While the opposition advocates for negotiations to secure the release of captives, Netanyahu and Gallant contend that exerting continued pressure on the resistance will compel them to make concessions.

An Israeli fighter jet releases flares as it flies over the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 (AP Photo)

The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that disagreements among members of the Israeli war cabinet "have started to leak into the public," posing a threat to undermine the military strategy adopted by the regime, especially at a "crucial stage" of the war.

The group of decision-makers involved in wartime decisions, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Security Minister Yoav Gallant, and former head of the Israeli military Benny Gantz, are publicly diverging on the two significant challenges they confront: whether "Israel" should engage in negotiations to end the war on Gaza and secure the release of remaining captives, and decide who will come to rule the devastated region in the aftermath of the genocide.

Under the pressure exerted by the families of captives, opposition leader Benny Gantz along with his deputy, Gadi Eisenkot, is actively advocating to initiate negotiations with the resistance.

The objective is to secure the release of approximately 130 captives, as reported by Israeli media and widely discussed among political analysts.

Meanwhile, according to the reports, both Netanyahu and Gallant contend that exerting continued pressure on the resistance will compel them to make concessions.

"There’s clearly a distinction here between the two sides," analyst Reuven Hazan told the newspapers. "If it was up to Gantz and Eisenkot, and tomorrow Hamas made an offer of ending the conflict in exchange for releasing all of the hostages, they would go for it. Netanyahu would say no."

Mairav Zonszein, the senior analyst for "Israel" at the International Crisis Group, expressed that the fractures within the Israeli war cabinet are inducing a form of paralysis, hindering the regime from implementing a successful strategy.

Zonszein added that Gallant is likely motivated by a blend of political and military considerations when openly challenging Netanyahu for his reluctance to engage in discussions about plans for the day after.

"I think he feels a responsibility toward sending 20-year-olds on a mission that is clearly failing," she said.

It is worth noting that the Israeli newspaper Maariv reported earlier in the day that "Israel" is about to experience a 'national shock' as its emergency government heads toward an "already known" end, something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledges clearly.

Bloomberg previously indicated that Gantz and several other representatives plan to exit the emergency government cabinet, a move considered to be the first nail in Netanyahu's coffin, as the PM finds himself on the way to being ousted.

Israeli Channel 14 also released a recorded clip of Israeli writer Haim Bar, accusing Netanyahu of disregarding settlements since October 7.

The writer can be heard calling for the Netanyahus' punishment and death, a parallel to the story of an Israeli king who was served the death penalty alongside his wife.