why Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet is on the verge of a split

Will the Israeli war cabinet collapse? The six-member body, including three observer members, was launched by Benjamin Netanyahu after the October 7 terrorist attacks. Seven months later, he has never seemed so divided on his goals. To the point that Benny Gantz, political rival of the Prime Minister, threatened to slam the door of the body if a “action plan” post-war was not adopted in the coming weeks.

Franceinfo looks back at the reasons that weaken this cabinet, at the heart of the Israeli response to Hamas.

Because opponent Benny Gantz issued an ultimatum to Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu’s main rival, Benny Gantz, gave the Prime Minister three weeks to adopt a “action plan” strategic, otherwise he will resign. “The war cabinet must formulate and approve by June 8, an action plan to achieve six strategic objectives of national importance”declared the leader of the National Union Party (center-right) during a televised speech on Saturday.

A long-time critic of Benjamin Netanyahu, the former Minister of Defense had already sent him in mid-January a list of twelve measures to take in the conflict in Gaza. Three months later, he wishes “the establishment of an American-European-Arab-Palestinian administration which will manage civil affairs” in Gaza “and will lay the foundations for a future alternative that is neither Hamas nor [Mahmoud] Abbas”president of the Palestinian Authority. He also called for normalization with Saudi Arabia “within the broader framework that will enable an alliance between the ‘free world’ and the Arab world against Iran and its allies”.

Benny Gantz, who formed a unity government with Benjamin Netanyahu in 2020, also called in early April for early legislative elections in September, while the next election is officially scheduled for October 2026. Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud immediately rejected this appeal.

According to an investigation by the Israeli newspaper Maariv conducted in December 2023, if early legislative elections took place, Benny Gantz would come well ahead (49%) against Benjamin Netanyahu (32%).

Because the Minister of Defense expressed reservations about Israel’s military strategy

Benny Gantz is not the only member of the war cabinet to express reservations about the policy pursued by Benjamin Netanyahu vis-à-vis Gaza. Yoav Gallant, Minister of Defense and member of Likud, has already publicly called on the Prime Minister on Wednesday May 15 to “prepare immediately” a “governmental alternative to Hamas” in the Palestinian enclave, where the army has intensified its operations in Rafah, in the south. This battle has been described as “decisive” by the Prime Minister.

The Minister of Defense also expressed his opposition to a civil or military administration of the Gaza Strip by Israel, a wish expressed by Benjamin Netanyahu. On the other hand, unlike Benny Gantz, Yoav Gallant did not set an ultimatum on his presence within this body.

Because Gadi Eizenkot, former general, believes that Benjamin Netanyahu is lying about his objectives

Former general Gadi Eisenkot, an observer member of the war cabinet, has several times exposed his differences with the Prime Minister. “Talk about absolute defeat [du Hamas à Gaza] is untruthful. Today, the truth is that the war objectives are not being achieved in the Gaza Strip.”he tackled in January, after Benjamin Netanyahu declared that he was aiming for a “total victory” of Israel against Hamas. “To be a good leader, you have to tell the truth to the people”he continued.

In April, Gadi Eisenkot, who lost his son and one of his nephews during fighting, again publicly felt that talking about a “total victory” in the Gaza Strip was “ill-advised”underlines The Times of Israel. “Anyone who demands total and rapid victory is misguided.”he insisted.

Because despite his support, the Prime Minister’s position is increasingly fragile

The Prime Minister did not wait to respond to the main criticisms coming from his political rival. “The conditions set by Benny Gantz are rehashed words whose meaning is clear: the end of the war and the defeat of Israel”, reacted Benyamin Netanyahu in a press release. He accused his minister of “looking for an excuse to overthrow the government” and want “the creation of a Palestinian state”.

In addition to Benny Gantz, the Prime Minister must face opposition from part of Israeli society. Thousands of people demonstrated on Saturday to demand early elections, a demand repeatedly hammered out by its opponents in recent months.

Within the war cabinet, Benjamin Netanyahu can still count on the support of the two other observer members of the body, Arié Dery and Ron Dermer. The first, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Israeli Shass party, is considered a trusted man of the Prime Minister, whose coalition government he joined in December 2022.

His movement is pushing in particular for the ultraorthodox to continue to benefit from the military exemption granted to them, which also causes friction in the coalition. Ron Dermer is a former Israeli ambassador to Washington and has often taken positions close to American conservatives. He is one of Benjamin Netanyahu’s closest advisors.