Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sacks defence minister Yoav Gallant
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed his defense minister, Yoav Gallant.
This action takes place 14 months after the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, which was initiated by Hamas's assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Mr. Netanyahu mentioned that a "trust issue" had emerged between him and Mr. Gallant.
He mentioned that there were too many major differences between them regarding how Israel's wars were handled.
"During times of war, it is crucial for the prime minister and the defense minister to have complete confidence in each other," Mr. Netanyahu stated.
"Regrettably, while the initial months of the campaign were marked by a strong sense of trust and productive collaboration, this trust began to deteriorate in the later months between myself and the defense minister."
The two have frequently disagreed on how to manage the conflict in Gaza.
In March of last year, an earlier effort to dismiss Mr. Gallant sparked significant protests on the streets against Mr. Netanyahu. Following the recent firing, opposition parties are urging people to hold large demonstrations in response.
This development occurs in the context of ongoing debates about enlisting ultra-Orthodox students in the IDF. This week, Mr. Gallant made the decision to distribute thousands of draft notices.
Leaders of the ultra-Orthodox Haredi parties within Mr. Netanyahu's coalition are advocating for legislation that would exempt full-time religious seminary students from military service.
Religious young men are not required to serve in the military, unlike the majority of Jewish individuals in the country who must fulfill this obligation.
Learn more: Israel terminates partnership with primary aid organization in Gaza. The military asserts it has taken a high-ranking Hezbollah member during a raid in Lebanon.
Netanyahu is likely to escape consequences for his 'crazy decision.'
The relationship between Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant has been shaky for quite a while. However, Netanyahu still saw Gallant as a capable military strategist. Given the ongoing multi-front conflicts in Israel and the fresh threats of an Iranian attack, the decision to fire him seems oddly timed.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called it "an insane move."
This decision is influenced by internal political dynamics. In Israel, there are disagreements regarding the effort to enlist ultra-religious Haredi students into the Israeli Defense Forces, especially as the military is currently under strain.
Many Israelis are frustrated that ultra-Orthodox individuals are not required to serve in the military, especially when a significant number of young men and women from the country are actively serving.
Mr. Gallant supported the idea of conscripting Haredi men, but the ultra-Orthodox faction in Mr. Netanyahu's government warned that they would withdraw from the coalition if such measures were implemented.
For this reason, many will see this as an action taken solely for Mr. Netanyahu's own political survival.
Israel Katz, who has taken over for Mr. Gallant, was the foreign minister, but that title was somewhat misleading. In practice, it was actually Mr. Netanyahu's trusted associate, Ron Dermer, who handled those responsibilities.
Mr. Katz lacks the extensive military leadership experience that Mr. Gallant possesses and is not held in high regard by the White House, in contrast to his predecessor.
Mr. Gallant was respected in Israel, and whenever he shared his views on the course of the war, often differing from Mr. Netanyahu, people paid attention.
He recently released a letter stating that the war was no longer on track. As a result, his approval ratings surpassed those of Mr. Netanyahu, which frustrated the prime minister.
This marks the second time Mr. Gallant has been dismissed; the first was last March when he criticized contentious judicial reforms. At that time, widespread protests broke out, leading to his discreet return to the position.
This time, he won't be able to make a comeback, and Israel is once again experiencing protests. However, after 13 months of conflict, there is a noticeable decline in the enthusiasm and vigor for protests compared to last March. As a result, it's likely that Mr. Netanyahu will escape accountability this time.
Main distinctions between Netanyahu and Gallant
At first, Israel's leaders appeared to be on the same page regarding their reaction to the Hamas attack in October of last year. However, as the situation escalated and spread into Lebanon, significant disagreements have surfaced between Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant.
Mr. Netanyahu has urged for sustained military action against Hamas in Gaza, whereas Mr. Gallant believes that the use of military force has established the right conditions for an agreement that could secure the release of more hostages taken by the militant organization.
In a recent statement, Mr. Gallant, a former general, emphasized, "Ensuring the safety of Israel has always been, and will continue to be, my lifelong goal."
Mr. Netanyahu has chosen Foreign Minister Israel Katz to take over the position of Defense Minister from Mr. Gallant. Katz is an experienced member of Netanyahu's cabinet and has been a longstanding supporter of the prime minister.
According to a statement from the prime minister's office, Gideon Saar is set to take on the role of the new foreign minister. Saar, who was once a competitor of Netanyahu, returned to the government in September.
