On Monday, David Mencer, a spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, confirmed the dissolution of the war cabinet, created just after the Hamas attack on October 7. Before this announcement, several Israeli media reported that Benjamin Netanyahu had announced the dissolution of this restricted group during a security cabinet meeting on Sunday.
“The war cabinet was a precondition for the creation of this government of national unity (…) With the departure of Benny Gantz (centrist) from the government, the cabinet is no longer necessary, its functions will be taken over by the cabinet of security,” David Mencer said during a press briefing. Indeed, since the departure of Benny Gantz followed by Gadi Eisenkot, this body was on the verge of implosion.
A decision-making body
After the attacks of October 7, this cabinet was created to make decisions relating to the war with Hamas. It included nine ministers in addition to Benjamin Netanyahu.
Our file on the Israel-Hamas war
According to commentators, Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to dissolve this cabinet would be intended in particular to pull the rug out from under the far-right ministers Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich who wanted to participate in the war cabinet since the start of the conflict.