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Israel's three Bs plot Gaza strategy while sidelined hawks fume Israel's three Bs plot Gaza strategy while sidelined hawks fume
(about 1 hour later)
Israel's military operation in Gaza is being overseen by a tight-knit group of three men, fast becoming known as the "three Bs" – Bibi, Bogie and Benny.Israel's military operation in Gaza is being overseen by a tight-knit group of three men, fast becoming known as the "three Bs" – Bibi, Bogie and Benny.
Bibi is the name by which the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, is almost universally known. Bogie is the nickname of Moshe Ya'alon, the defence minister, and Benny Gantz is the Israeli military chief of staff. The three are in constant contact to determine strategy, with Netanyahu also regularly convening meetings of his security cabinet – a group smaller than the cabinet, which reviews and decides security matters – to discuss and endorse their decisions.Bibi is the name by which the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, is almost universally known. Bogie is the nickname of Moshe Ya'alon, the defence minister, and Benny Gantz is the Israeli military chief of staff. The three are in constant contact to determine strategy, with Netanyahu also regularly convening meetings of his security cabinet – a group smaller than the cabinet, which reviews and decides security matters – to discuss and endorse their decisions.
The axis of three has infuriated some of those excluded, including the hawkish foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the hard-right Jewish Home party, Naftali Bennett, and the now-sacked deputy defence minister Danny Danon. They have accused Netanyahu of weakness (Danon went so far as to describe the prime minister as a "leftist") and have pressed for a full-scale Israeli military takeover of Gaza and the annihilation of Hamas.The axis of three has infuriated some of those excluded, including the hawkish foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the hard-right Jewish Home party, Naftali Bennett, and the now-sacked deputy defence minister Danny Danon. They have accused Netanyahu of weakness (Danon went so far as to describe the prime minister as a "leftist") and have pressed for a full-scale Israeli military takeover of Gaza and the annihilation of Hamas.
Netanyahu's three terms as prime minister have not been notable for bold military campaigns, despite his generally hawkish outlook. In the last intense conflict in Gaza, Operation Pillar of Defence in November 2012, Netanyahu balked at sending in ground troops. Although the current offensive has gone much further than the previous one, Netanyahu – who served for five years in an elite commando unit, Sayeret Matkal, from 1967 – is operating more cautiously than some of his rightwing cabinet colleagues would like.Netanyahu's three terms as prime minister have not been notable for bold military campaigns, despite his generally hawkish outlook. In the last intense conflict in Gaza, Operation Pillar of Defence in November 2012, Netanyahu balked at sending in ground troops. Although the current offensive has gone much further than the previous one, Netanyahu – who served for five years in an elite commando unit, Sayeret Matkal, from 1967 – is operating more cautiously than some of his rightwing cabinet colleagues would like.
Ya'alon was chief of staff during the second intifada, the Palestinian uprising that started in 2000. He was responsible for Operation Defensive Shield, the Israeli military offensive in the West Bank that aimed to quell the intifada. He is seen as a rightwinger, but Israeli analysts say he has not taken an overtly gung-ho approach to the current conflict.Ya'alon was chief of staff during the second intifada, the Palestinian uprising that started in 2000. He was responsible for Operation Defensive Shield, the Israeli military offensive in the West Bank that aimed to quell the intifada. He is seen as a rightwinger, but Israeli analysts say he has not taken an overtly gung-ho approach to the current conflict.
Gantz, in the final year of his term as chief of staff, has a reputation for being a more measured military leader than some of his predecessors. But in March, in response to a question from students about whether it was possible to stop rocket fire from Gaza, he said: "If we want to make sure that nothing will come from there, we need to retake Gaza."Gantz, in the final year of his term as chief of staff, has a reputation for being a more measured military leader than some of his predecessors. But in March, in response to a question from students about whether it was possible to stop rocket fire from Gaza, he said: "If we want to make sure that nothing will come from there, we need to retake Gaza."
The criticism from Netanyahu's right flank has been more than merely an irritant for the prime minister in the past 10 days, especially as the Israeli public mood appears markedly more hawkish than during the last conflict. He took swift action in sacking Danon, a member of his own Likud party. "To be forced to sack your defence minister in the middle of a military conflict is a big deal," said one analyst. The criticism from Netanyahu's right flank has been more than merely an irritant for the prime minister in the past 10 days, especially as the Israeli public mood appears markedly more hawkish than during the last conflict. He took swift action in sacking Danon, a member of his own Likud party. "To be forced to sack your deputy defence minister in the middle of a military conflict is a big deal," said one analyst.