Bennett (L) and Netanyahu
צילום: EPA
National Security Council recommended to continuously update Security Cabinet ministers
Following Operation Protective Edge, Bayit Yehudi Leader Naftali Bennett demanded that a military secretary be appointed to the Security Cabinet for regular updates; a committee set up to look into the matter has sided with Bennett, recommending that a new body be founded within the National Security Council for this purpose.
A committee tasked with looking into the work of the Security Cabinet handed its recommendations to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, following the demand by Bayit Yehudi Leader and Security Cabinet member Naftali Bennett, who wanted Netanyahu to appoint a military secretary charged with updating the Security Cabinet with pertinent information on national security.
Bennett had originally asked for regular Security Cabinet updates after Operation Protective Edge, as part of what he stated would be an effort to learn from past mistakes. Netanyahu agreed to set up a committee to look into the necessity of such an appointment.
Bennett (L) and Netanyahu (Photo: Amil Salman) (צילום: אמיל סלמן)
Among the committee's recommendations was setting up a new, designated body within the National Security Council that would supply the Security Cabinet—mainly made up of the top ministers—with constant, up-to-date information on matters relevant to national
Further recommendations have been deepening the cabinet members' knowledge in security matters, better preparing new members for their role in the cabinet and clarifying the extent of the cabinet members' roles in times of peace, war and emergency.
Bennett was happy with the committee's recommendations. "Our insistence paid off," he said. "There is no doubt that over the last few months, there has been a vast improvement in the weekly updating of cabinet ministers, which is carried out in a satisfying and professional manner. I expect the committee's recommendations to be fully implemented."
Bennett's statement however, comes after a much more critical position voiced by members of his own party back in May, when Netanyahu had originally announced the establishment of the committee. At the time, Bayit Yehudi members issued a statement, saying that "The prime minister's announcement is meaningless. No spin will save a person's life, and certainly not the founding of another insignificant committee, as he is wont to do from time to time."
