The power-sharing crisis between Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich has come to an end. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Gallant, and Smotrich signed a document of understanding on Thursday regarding the division of responsibility in the Defense Ministry between the Defense Minister and the additional minister regarding the Civil Administration and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. This is pursuant to the coalition agreements and the Knesset decision on the day the government was established.
According to Walla, Smotrich will receive the majority of control over the Civil Administration, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will sort out the arguments regarding enforcement.
Channel 12 reported that the two concluded that the military's freedom of operation would not be affected by the power-sharing and the appointment of officers in the Civil Administration would continue to be carried out by the IDF Chief of Staff so that the organizational structure of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories and the Civil Administration will remain as they were.
The two also agreed to appoint a civilian deputy to the chief of the Civil Administration, who will be granted the power to work on civil issues such as planning, infrastructure, water, zoning, and transportation. He will receive direction from both Defense Minister Gallant and Minister Smotrich and, at times, will have to find a way to make the two meet.
On Wednesday, it was reported that Smotrich sent a message to Prime Minister Netanyahu warning that he will not support the State budget if he is not given the powers he seeks over the Civil Administration.
According to the report, the government's decision to transfer power has already been prepared, but Netanyahu is currently delaying it due to fears of its adverse effects on Israel.
Netanyahu tried several times to get involved in the standoff between the two ministers, but in the end, it would seem that the two solved the disagreement by themselves.