The Israeli Business Forum has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to dismiss Security Minister Yoav Gallant and replace him with Gideon Sa’ar, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.

In a statement, the forum, which includes 200 leading companies in "Israel" and represents most workers in the private sector, warned that "firing [Gallant] would weaken Israel in the eyes of its enemies and further deepen public division."

Read more: Sa'ar vs Gallant debate continues as Hezbollah sustains North pressure

The statement added, "The Prime Minister knows better than anyone that all economic indicators show Israel is heading toward an economic abyss and sinking into a deep recession. The last thing Israel needs right now is the dismissal of a [security] minister, which would destabilize the [entity]."

Similarly, Knesset member and former Chief of General Staff Gadi Eizenkot said in a radio interview that, while he is "no fan" of Gallant, his dismissal was prepared for political purposes to pass the [Haredi] draft law, thus harming the Israeli military."

Eizenkot pointed out that this decision is "a continuation of Netanyahu's cynical policies, where personal political interests take precedence, while none of the war’s objectives have been achieved after a year of its start."

A decision away

Israeli media reported on that Monday Netanyahu is seeking to dismiss his security minister, citing Gallant's "obstruction of expanding the attack on Lebanon," and that Knesset member Gideon Sa'ar "will replace him within an hour."

Israeli media said on Tuesday that the main issue now is an attack in Lebanon "that could lead to a war against Hezbollah, which is what Sa'ar is currently focused on."

They pointed out that Gallant says in discussions that expanding the current fighting to the northern front before exhausting efforts in Gaza, would be a mistake and that an agreement in Gaza should be reached.

Read more: Gallant 'lost his mind', igniting anti-government protests: Netanyahu

While Netanyahu's office denied holding negotiations with Sa'ar to appoint him as Gallant's replacement, Likud officials told Israeli media that there had been significant progress in talks between the two.

They noted that "the only thing separating Sa'ar from joining the government is Netanyahu’s final decision to dismiss Gallant, which he has yet to make."