Security Cabinet Compromise Commences

It almost brought down the coalition and forced new elections, but Jewish Home chairman Naftali Bennett’s demand for security cabinet reform was already being implemented on Tuesday, following a last-minute compromise.

Bennett expressed satisfaction on Monday that the pressure he applied to appoint a military secretary to brief members of the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet has yielded results.

“I have started receiving updates. Now all of a sudden there are discussions with the National Security Council chief; he makes appointments with me,” Bennett was quoted by Israel Hayom as saying.

According to the coalition-saving compromise, crafted by Health Minister Rabbi Yaakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism), the NSC head or his deputy will brief the ministers until a committee tasked with proposing ways to improve Diplomatic-Security Cabinet procedures submits its recommendations. That committee will be chaired by former National Security Adviser Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror.

Jewish Home MK Shuli Mualem-Rafaeli said, after the compromise was reached, “The voter’s desire for a right-wing government is being realized, while implementing critical measures to make the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet more efficient.”

Bennett said, “It would have been possible to reach this agreement a week ago, but it’s good it happened now. I thank the prime minister for agreeing to the deal, which will benefit IDF soldiers and the nation as a whole. The people of Israel won.”