In a recent turn of events, Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich openly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) decision to scale back troops in Gaza. This critique also extended to reports suggesting Israel's newfound willingness to make previously unconsidered concessions in a hostage negotiation deal with Hamas.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, serving as Israel's National Security Minister, expressed a stern warning via a post on the social media platform X. He stated that should Prime Minister Netanyahu conclude Israel's conflict with Hamas without launching a significant offensive against the group in Rafah, Netanyahu would, in Ben-Gvir's view, lose his legitimacy as Prime Minister.
אם ראש הממשלה יחליט לסיים את המלחמה ללא מתקפה נרחבת על רפיח על מנת להכריע את חמאס, לא יהיה לו מנדט להמשיך לכהן כראש הממשלה.
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) April 8, 2024
Ben-Gvir's sentiments, called for an immediate gathering of his party members to discuss what he perceives as unsettling reports. These reports suggest a potential general agreement to conclude the conflict without a definitive victory over Hamas, a notion Smotrich finds unacceptable.
Smotrich's demands didn't stop at party consultations. He took a more formal approach by sending a letter insisting that Netanyahu urgently convene Israel's National Security Cabinet. This body, as Smotrich highlighted, holds the statutory authority to make pivotal policy decisions during wartime. He criticized the current operational procedure, noting that decisions have been made by a smaller, more exclusive war cabinet without the broader National Security Cabinet's endorsement. According to Smotrich, this approach, influenced by international pressures, jeopardizes the war's momentum and compromises Israel's security interests.
Netanyahu's right-wing allies unsettled over latest Gaza moves. NatSec Minister Ben Gvir warns Netanyahu that ending the Gaza war without a Rafah offensive jeopardizes PM's mandate to govern. Finance Minister Smotrich criticizes Netanyahu for making Gaza decisions without full…
— Eretz Yisrael 24 (@EretzYisrael24) April 8, 2024
The war cabinet, as currently constituted, is a select group including Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, National Unity Minister-without-portfolio Benny Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot, Shas chairman MK Aryeh Deri, National Security Council chairman Tzahi Hanegby, and top security officials. It's tasked with making tactical wartime decisions.
In his communication, Smotrich emphasized his longstanding conviction that easing off the conflict with Hamas is a mistake. Instead, he argues for intensifying pressure on Hamas in Gaza as the sole strategy to secure the hostages' return and ensure Hamas's defeat.
Meanwhile, Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition and head of the Yesh Atid party, while on a diplomatic mission in the United States, offered an olive branch of sorts. He declared on X that his party is prepared to act as a "safety net" for the government concerning the hostage deal. Lapid underscored Yesh Atid's significant representation in the Knesset, with 24 seats, in contrast to the combined 14 seats of Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, signaling a potential for broader legislative support for the government's course of action in these negotiations.
🚨🇮🇱BEN GVIR: IF NETANYAHU DOESN'T ATTACK RAFAH, HE HAS TO GO
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 8, 2024
"If the prime minister decides to end the war without an extensive attack on Rafah in order to defeat Hamas, he will not have a mandate to continue serving as prime minister."
Source: Yediot News pic.twitter.com/WUMPd95HoH
These developments underscore the complex internal dynamics within Israel's government and the varying perspectives on handling the ongoing conflict with Hamas. The calls for a more decisive and unified approach reflect the broader challenges facing Israel in securing its interests and the safety of its citizens amid persistent threats.
