Amid disagreement, security cabinet skips vote on allowing return of West Bank Palestinian workers

The security cabinet skipped a vote tonight on a controversial proposal to allow Palestinian laborers to enter Israel from the West Bank, which would have allowed potentially thousands of workers to return to work for the first time since October 7.

The proposal, rejected by the 15-member socioeconomic cabinet earlier tonight, was not brought for a vote in the security cabinet after a long discussion and reported disagreements.

Citing a source who attended meeting, Walla reports that Israel Defense Forces representatives, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, known by its acronym COGAT, and the Shin Bet expressed their support for the proposal while representatives of the Israel Police voiced their opposition.

The source noted that some cabinet ministers also expressed their opposition and Prime Minister Netanyahu did not bring the issue to a vote.

According to Walla, Netanyahu also removed a vote from the cabinet’s agenda on the issue of transferring tax money to the Palestinian Authority, a move that is strongly opposed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

“The fear of making decisions also accompanied this cabinet meeting,” the source told Walla.