The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to discuss the transition with the media, per the Associated Press. The smaller forum that Netanyahu will be utilizing, called "the kitchen cabinet" per NBC News, will include his Security Cabinet and will be used for sensitive war issues.
The now reportedly disbanded War Cabinet was formed in Israel after the October 7 massacre carried out by Palestinian terror group Hamas. Gantz, an opposition party leader, had joined the emergency government as a show of unity and demanded the creation of the War Cabinet "in a bid to sideline far-right members of Netanyahu's government," according to AP. It consisted of Gantz, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Gantz pointed fingers at Netanyahu over his decision to leave, blaming the PM for a lack of progress in the war against Hamas. The dissolved cabinet comes as Israel faces increasing hostility and cross-border fire from Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah.
Paul Salem, VP for international engagement at the Middle East Institute think tank, stated: "I think a lot of this is domestic politics and jockeying for potential upcoming elections but I also feel that Netanyahu is feeling a bit stronger than he did a little while ago." He said that the PM most likely views himself as "standing up for what the Israelis want and refusing to succumb to pressure."
