Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah – the three-member Israeli war cabinet has a lot to do. But Netanyahu, Gantz and Gallant do not trust each other.
Jerusalem – Israel's military leadership is divided over the right strategy. The war cabinet set up after the Hamas kidnappings last October, consisting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Joaw Galant and former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, is not only fighting for war operations in Gaza. The three decision-makers also have different positions regarding the right answer to freeing the remaining hostages or the positioning towards the USA.
After Iran's attack on Israel, the whole world is watching the reaction of the war cabinet. But Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz have not yet stood out for their particular harmony. “The lack of trust between these three people is so clear and so significant,” said Giora Eiland, a former general and security adviser, according to
the Wall Street Journal
. Since Iran's attack on Saturday (April 13), the war cabinet has met daily and is struggling to find a response to the Iranian attack that shows strength and at the same time does not anger the USA. President Joe Biden had expressly warned against an escalation in Rafah.
Netanyahu is trying to bypass colleagues and stir up discontent
Defense Secretary Gallant has the most confrontational stance toward Iran. At the beginning of the war, he advocated a preemptive strike against Iran's Lebanese ally Hezbollah, but is also keen to ally with the USA. Far-right forces in Israel are also pushing Netanyahu for a drastic response to Iran's attack.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu is trying to make decisions within the war cabinet bypassing his two colleagues, Israeli officials report. And not just since the Iran question - there were tensions from the beginning. Immediately after the Hamas attack on October 7th, Netanyahu blamed the Israeli security apparatus, which angered Gantz, and Netanyahu apologized.
The dispute between Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant has been raging for some time
When asked about a preemptive strike against Hezbollah, Netanyahu ignored Defense Minister Gallant. The dispute escalated to the point that Netanyahu and Gallant began holding separate press conferences -
sometimes just a few minutes after each other, according to
the Wall Street Journal
. Another point of contention between the two is the USA. Netanyahu publicly fell out with Biden, but Gallant spoke regularly with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
The rivalry between Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gantz is no less. The two have already competed against each other in five elections, which experts consider to be particularly dirty. And Gallant and Gantz have not spoken to each other in over a decade, but are trying to work together constructively within the War Cabinet.
Agreement between Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz can shape the future of the Middle East
The points of contention between the three members of the Israeli war cabinet seem endless: freeing the hostages, judicial reform, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Gaza war, settlement policy. But Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz don't really have time for arguments. Their decisions regarding Iran and a possible postwar order in Palestine can shape a new era in the Middle East.
(lm)