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Israel's Netanyahu fragile government on edge over Ben-Gvir's Gaza exit
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to replace three cabinet ministers following the exit of the far-right Otzma Yehudit ("Jewish Power") party from the cabinet over the Gaza ceasefire.
The three open posts, National Security Minister, Heritage Minister, and Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience Minister, are set to be open from Tuesday, according to The Times of Israel.
Prominent Jewish Power leader Itamar Ben-Gvir left his post as National Security Minister over the Gaza truce deal with Hamas last week, the far-right figure one of the notorious members of Netanyahu's government.
The filling of these positions is set to ridden with infighting within Netanyahu's Likud Party, according to a coalition insider speaking to the publication.
Jewish Power, led by Ben-Gvir, was one of a number of parties that made up Netanyahu's coalition, the most far-right in Israel's history. Another party in government is the Religious Zionist Party led by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also voted against the ceasefire, although he has not yet resigned.
Netanyahu is expected to fill the vacant post as National Security Minister with a Likud Knesset Member (MK) in a bid to leave the door open for Ben-Gvir's potential return.
However, there could be legal hurdles in the appointments as ministers Eli Cohen, Miri Regev, and May Golan are currently tied to an ongoing police investigation.
A top contender, according to The Times of Israel is Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, although the right-wing Israel Hayom newspaper said Energy Minister Eli Cohen is also in the running.
Additionally, Regional Cooperation Minister David Amsalem is looking to head the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience Ministry, while the heritage ministry may be folded.
Chairmanships of certain select committees, including the National Security Committee and Special Committee for Oversight of the Israeli Citizen's Fund are also set to open.
Likewise, given the election of Otzma Yehudit's MKs occurred on a joint list with the Religious Zionist Party, there could also be changes in the composition of Knesset membership as well.
Netanyahu's cabinet reshuffles of Otzma Yehudit's positions come on the backdrop of threats by the Religious Zionist Party to also leave the coalition if Israel's war on Gaza does not restart following the end of phase one of the agreement.
Party leader Bezalel Smotrich told Israel's Army Radio he would "bring down the government if it does not return to fighting in a way that [leads to us] taking over the entire Gaza Strip and governing it".
However, Smotrich said he did not resign like Ben-Gvir did because it was impossible to stop the deal, and that he would remain in the government in a bid to salvage the damage of the ceasefire.
"The only way to repair this damage and turn the deal into a tactical loss in battle rather than a strategic defeat in the war is to return to fighting until Hamas is destroyed," he said in a Facebook post.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on Sunday at 11:15am local time after months of negotiations between the two, with the release of three Israeli captives, 90 Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of hundreds of aid trucks into the enclave.