'Bibi, Barak use security forums as rubber stamp'
Members of Security Cabinet, eight-minister security forum complain that PM, defense minister exclude them from crucial decision making process
Members of the Security Cabinet and the eight-minister security forum expressed resentment Wednesday over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision not to convene any of the security forums despite the recent escalation in southern Israel.
The ministers said that Netanyahu failed to brief them on recent updates concerning the Iranian threat, or as to Israel's response to the mounting tensions in the southern sector.
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"Some of the ministers feel that they are being used as a rubber stamp," a cabinet member told Ynet.
"We weren’t briefed on the situation in Gaza even once. Netanyahu apparently feels confident enough to make all the decisions by himself, or with Barak, without including any of the other ministers."
Netanyahu and Barak (Photo: Yaron Brener)
Members of the eight-minister security forum, known as "the Eight," were especially vexed over being excluded from the decision making process vis-à-vis the recent Gaza escalation.
"It's possible that some ministers had private meetings with the PM, but if the forum isn't convened, what's the point of having it?" a top political source wondered.
"There's no point in asking the ministers what they think about the situation in Gaza. They don't really know – Bibi and Barak make all the decisions by themselves."
The lack of communication, the source added, now pertains to the Iranian thereat as well, as Netanyahu refrained from calling an Eight meeting prior to his visit to the United States, and has yet to convene the forum since his return.
"Bibi and Barak are not the masters of all wisdom," a political source added.
"The fact that they both served in Sayeret Matkal doesn’t mean that they can act like they are allowed to make all the decisions by themselves. The least they can do is brief the cabinet on their decisions."
Sources close to the prime minister confirmed that the forums had not been convened of late, but stressed that "the PM consults with the relevant people constantly."
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