Security establishment slams ministers for using cabinet meeting on terror wave to bicker

Channel 12 quotes a security establishment source who tears into ministers for using today’s cabinet meeting on the ongoing terror wave to bicker amongst themselves and leak their statements to the press.

“The meeting was insane and not professional and was characterized by arguments between ministers that were not substantive,” the source says.

The criticism appears to be directed at far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir who is believed to have leaked selective quotes to the media in which he tears into Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for pushing back on his demands for punitive measures to be taken against the Palestinians.

The source says a substantive decision on the matter will be made by a smaller forum of ministers, given Netanyahu’s lack of trust in cabinet members like Ben Gvir — whom he appointed.

Netanyahu has said Israel will hit back at the terrorists who have been targeting Israelis along with those responsible for sending them out to carry out attacks.

The source says that the premier is implying that Israel will target Iran in response to the uptick in violence, indicating that IDF counter-strikes might extend beyond the West Bank.

The source adds that during the cabinet meeting, members of the security establishment stressed the need to strengthen the Palestinian Authority, which has been working to clamp down on terror elements in the West Bank — a message that was not welcomed by the far-right ministers.

The source also tells Channel 12 that the security establishment still opposes launching a wide-scale military operation in the West Bank akin to the 2002 Operation Defensive Shield, despite such demands by
Ben Gvir and other far-right lawmakers.