During a tense security cabinet discussion Friday, ministers including Itamar Ben Gvir complained that IDF troops face dangerous restrictions in Lebanon. The Chief of Staff reminded them the political echelon requested the ceasefire. Defense Minister Israel Katz said every soldier can respond immediately when needed, while Prime Minister Netanyahu said the US understands Israel's right to self-defense.
At Friday's security cabinet meeting, ministers including Itamar Ben Gvir complained that IDF troops in southern Lebanon face dangerous restrictions under the ceasefire with Hezbollah. The Chief of Staff told them: "You — the political level — wanted the ceasefire," a retort that echoes his recorded remarks from Thursday night's session according to the thread's first published item (Fri 10:04 Jerusalem).
By Friday morning (10:04 Jerusalem), The Zioneer reported three successive developments: ministers had clashed with the prime minister and defense chief Thursday night over the threat to soldiers; within hours, the Chief of Staff and Netanyahu rebuffed the criticism by insisting soldiers have full fire-authorization; and in the current thread version, Ben Gvir specifically called the latest wounding of soldiers "an opportunity to collapse the agreement." Defense Minister Katz said: "Every soldier can respond immediately — we do not endanger any soldier."
The internal cabinet dispute follows two weeks of public tension as The Zioneer reported on Sun Jun 21 that ministers called for escalation in Lebanon, with one quoting "now is the time to speak in fire." Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, cited by The Zioneer on Sun Jun 21, said soldiers are sent to face the enemy "with their hands tied." Defense Minister Katz had promised on Thu Jun 18 that Israel would not tolerate one-sided harm to its troops.
It remains unclear whether the Chief of Staff's direct rebuttal, or the warnings from Netanyahu and Katz, will shift the positions of ministers pressing to abandon the ceasefire. No decision on policy change has been reported out of the cabinet session.
5 developments
- DevelopingNetanyahu says troops have full freedom of action; report claims zero strikes in 48 hours
- StrongKatz: No restriction on IDF action to remove threats in Lebanon; Amir says no initiated ops, no ceasefire
- DevelopingNetanyahu, IDF chief detail tense Trump call and independent Iran strike readiness in cabinet
- StrongNetanyahu, Katz told troops to open fire on any threat in south Lebanon
Source and signal
- Internal intake