British newspaper The Times reported, citing an Israeli security official, that Israel’s War Government is on the verge of collapse, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hesitant and wasting time.
The publication noted the war government, rapidly formed in response to the conflict in the Gaza Strip, is now facing numerous questions about continuing the fight against the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza or agreeing to a ceasefire that would allow the release of 136 Israeli detainees still in the enclave.
The paper stated that disagreements over these issues, along with other challenges related to who will govern Gaza after the war, are tearing the Israeli War Government apart.
The Times also pointed to statements revealing tension within the Israeli war leadership, as former Israeli Army Chief and member of the war cabinet, Gadi Eisenkot, accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of withholding the truth about military objectives in Gaza.
Sharp Disagreements
In a related context, Israeli website Walla reported on Saturday that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant attempted to storm Netanyahu’s office, with the situation nearly escalating to a physical altercation.
Gallant threatened Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, indicating he would bring the Golani Brigade to take control of the situation in the war council.
Dermer, who renounced his American citizenship to serve as the economic envoy in Washington before becoming an ambassador there, is considered one of Netanyahu’s closest confidantes.
According to Walla, Netanyahu’s staff caught Gallant’s team recording the security meeting discussions on an audio tape.
Israeli media had earlier reported that Gallant left a war cabinet meeting on Saturday due to his office director being barred from attending, amid growing tension within the council.
Channel 12 in Israel, quoting a source at the time, said the minister’s withdrawal came after arriving at the venue and his aide being prevented from entering with him, but when he entered the room, he found five of Netanyahu’s aides present.
The source added, “Netanyahu told Gallant that as his assistant didn’t attend, yours shouldn’t either, despite five of his own staff being on-site,” prompting the Defense Minister to withdraw.
As per the channel, Netanyahu believes the army is leaking information related to the discussions and bilateral talks.
Over recent months, the Israeli media has repeatedly touched on ongoing disputes between Gallant and Netanyahu regarding the management of the war on the Gaza Strip and the post-war period, in addition to Netanyahu’s repeated attempts to blame the military for the war in Gaza.
Many Israeli analysts suggest that each member of the war council is primarily concerned with their political future rather than the interests of Israel.
Ofer Shelah, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, believes that from the first day of the war, council members are preparing for the post-war era. “The specter of the Seventh of October haunts them, and everyone is running ugly media campaigns on satellite channels, purporting they’re doing well while others are mistaken.”
