Ben Gvir threatens to bolt government if Gaza offensive reined in
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir hits out at the war cabinet and calls for it to be disbanded, in light of speculation that the IDF’s intensive military campaign in Gaza may soon wind down in favor of lower-intensity operations.
“If anyone intends, God forbid, to halt the IDF before Hamas has been defeated and all the hostages have been returned, he should take into account that Otzma Yehudit will not be with him,” says the leader of the far-right party.
“The idea of reducing activity in Gaza is a failure of war management by the small [war] cabinet. It should be dismantled immediately. The time has come to restore the reins to the wider [security] cabinet,” the ultranationalist minister says.
The war cabinet comprises Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and National Unity leader and minister without portfolio Benny Gantz who are the three voting members, along with two observers, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and minister without portfolio Gadi Eisenkot.
Ben Gvir has clashed with Gallant on numerous occasions, even before October 7, and has a difficult relationship with Netanyahu.
His threat mirrors similar threats made this week by fellow firebrand Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who twice threatened implicitly to leave the government this week over policy toward the Palestinians and the governance of Gaza after the war.
