Netanyahu, Barak exclude ministers decisions

Members of the Israeli Security Cabinet and the eight-minister security forum have complained that the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak only use them as a ‘rubber stamp’ without briefing them on crucial issues. "Some of the ministers feel that they are being used as a rubber stamp," a cabinet member told Ynet, saying that Netanyahu has failed to brief them on the Iranian issue and the Gaza developments. "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." The cabinet ministers said that Netanyahu is yet to convene any security forum since his return from the US. Sources close to the prime minister confirmed that no meeting had been convened, but went on to say that Netanyahu is in constant consultation with relevant people.