Wartime cabinet dissolution was inevitable

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to dissolve the wartime cabinet, while not surprising, reflects a necessary step following its paralysis and the resignation of opposition leader Benny Gantz. The cabinet's inability to influence military decisions during the recent hostilities, coupled with Gantz's direct orders in disregard of its advice to suspend tactical military activities, made Netanyahu's decision inevitable.

The wartime cabinet, established following the Hamas attack last October, with Netanyahu, Gantz, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at its core, held supreme decision-making and veto powers in wartime scenarios. Netanyahu faced significant pressure from the far right within this setup, and its dissolution shifts decision-making back to the broader Israeli cabinet, now including voices from the far right. This complicates Netanyahu's balancing act among left, center, and right factions, potentially pushing him toward greater cooperation with the far right to maintain political stability.

Gantz's departure also questions the legitimacy of Israel's government and decisions regarding the Gaza conflict, likely intensifying calls for early parliamentary elections. Internationally, the dissolution of the wartime cabinet isn't good news for the Biden administration either. With increasing far-right influence within Netanyahu's government and growing opposition to Biden's Gaza proposals, Netanyahu may pivot toward policies less accepting of international initiatives, complicating US efforts to broker peace in the region.

Tang Zhichao is a researcher of Middle East studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

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