Netanyahu dismisses Defence Minister in surprise announcement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant during a press conference. file | Photo courtesy: Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his decision on Tuesday (November 5, 2024) Popular Defense Minister, Yoav GalantThe surprise announcement comes as the country remains embroiled in war on multiple fronts across the region.

Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant have repeatedly been at odds over the war in Gaza. But Mr Netanyahu had avoided dismissing his rival. Mr Netanyahu cited a “significant gap” and a “crisis of trust” among men in his Tuesday evening (November 5, 2024) announcement.

“In the midst of war, more than ever, there is a need for complete trust between the prime minister and the defense minister,” Mr Netanyahu said. “Unfortunately, although there was so much trust and much useful work was done in the first months of the campaign, that trust broke down between me and the Defense Minister during the last months.”

In the early days of the war, Israel’s leadership presented a unified front in response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack. But as the war dragged on and spread into Lebanon, major policy differences emerged. While Mr Netanyahu has called for continued military pressure on Hamas, Mr Gallant took a more pragmatic approach, saying military force had created the prerequisites for a diplomatic deal that could bring home hostages held by the terrorist group. .

Mr. Gallant, a former general who has gained public respect with a tough, no-nonsense personality, said in a statement: “The security of the State of Israel has always been, and always will be, my life’s mission.”

Mr Gallant has worn a simple, black button-down shirt throughout the war in a sign of grief over the October 7 attack and has developed a strong relationship with his American counterpart, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

A previous attempt by Mr Netanyahu to fire Mr Gallant in March 2023 had triggered widespread street protests against Mr Netanyahu. He also considered firing Mr Gallant over the summer, but postponed the announcement until Tuesday (November 5, 2024).

Mr Gallant will be replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, a Netanyahu loyalist and experienced cabinet minister who was a junior officer in the army. Mr Netanyahu’s former rival Gideon Saar, who recently rejoined the government, will take the foreign affairs post.

Mr Netanyahu has a long history of neutralizing his rivals. In his statement, he claimed he had made “numerous efforts” to bridge the differences with Mr Gallant.

“But they became widespread. They also came to the public knowledge in unacceptable ways, and worse, they came to the enemy knowledge – our enemies enjoyed it and benefited greatly from it,” he said.