After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed his ministers on Monday about the cancellation of the War Council amid pressures from his allies to join it, the White House responded.
Only Netanyahu! The White House National Security Council’s Strategic Communications Coordinator, John Kirby, confirmed that the United States would only engage with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He told reporters on Monday that Washington does not want an escalation or a second front of war in Israel, referring to the northern tension with Hezbollah in Lebanon. This announcement came after Netanyahu informed his ministers on Monday about the cancellation of the War Council amid pressures from his allies to join it, according to an Israeli official.
The official explained that Netanyahu told the ministers, “The War Government will be dissolved,” noting that he would continue consultations with ministers Gallant, Dermer, and Dery. He also announced that this move came after Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demanded to join the government and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich requested its dissolution.
Reduced Council for Sensitive Consultations Netanyahu had opposed repeated requests from Ben-Gvir to join this government over the past months. However, with the dissolution of the War Government, the situation returns to what it was before Gantz joined the government, meaning decisions will be made within the framework of the Security and Political Affairs Cabinet (the “Cabinet”) and the expanded government.
Making decisions without oversight: glimpses into the Israeli War Council dissolved by Netanyahu
Israeli Channel 12 revealed that Netanyahu would establish a reduced council for sensitive consultations instead of the canceled War Council. The War Government was formed after the National Unity Party, led by Benny Gantz, joined the emergency government on October 11, following the Hamas attack on October 7. In addition to Netanyahu and Gantz, the War Government included Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Gadi Eizenkot, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and Shas Party leader Aryeh Deri as observing members.
