Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved his six-member war cabinet, an Israeli official confirmed on Monday.
Reuters reports that it was a widely expected move that came after the departure from government of the centrist former general Benny Gantz.
Netanyahu had faced demands from the nationalist-religious partners in his coalition, far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to be included in the war cabinet, a move which could have intensified strains with international partners including the US.
Jonathan Lis reports for Haaretz that “some of the issues previously discussed by the war cabinet will now be transferred for discussion in the security cabinet, but sensitive decisions will be addressed in a smaller consultation forum”.
The move comes as protesters against Netanyahu’s government and handling of the war with Hamas are staging a week of demonstrations with the aim of forcing an election before the first year anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attack.
