The Israeli iron fist has lost its strength: to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahuannounced this Tuesday the dismissal of the former all-powerful Yoav Gallant as the country’s defense minister, hinting at a “mistrust” which has become more pronounced in recent months and which now considered insurmountable in a context marked by open fronts with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“Unfortunately, although in the first months of the war there was trust and very fruitful work, in the last months this trust has been broken between the defense minister and me,” Netanyahu said in a video published on his official profile on social networks. , which points out that these “significant discrepancies” have led to conflicting orders between the two.
Netanyahu acknowledged that these disagreements between him and Gallant transcended general opinion and even reached the ears of the “enemy,” who took advantage of this information to “advance” his attacks. “The crisis of confidence that broke out between the Minister of Defense and me has become a general crisis, and this crisis does not allow us to move forward gradually in the campaign,” he declared.
עדכון חשוב ממני אליכם >> pic.twitter.com/YlpNkaljRb
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 5, 2024
Thus, the Israeli president announced that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel Katz will be tasked with succeeding Gallant at the head of Defense. “He has demonstrated his capabilities and his contribution to national security,” he praised. Netanayhu of Katzwho previously headed the energy, finance, transportation and agriculture portfolio and also served as Israel’s intelligence minister, reports Ep..
In addition to his “experience,” Netanyahu praised his “combination of responsibility and determination,” all qualities he considers “very important” to lead the defense portfolio in the midst of war. The Prime Minister stressed who has the support of “many” members of his Cabinet, who considered it “impossible to continue” the war in this situation.
On the other hand, Netanyahu announced that he had invited the minister without portfolio Gédéon Sarreleader of the New Hope party, occupy the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. De Saar also praised his “extensive experience and knowledge in the fields of politics and security” and is confident that he will bring “significant strength” to the Israeli leadership.
“I am convinced that these measures will strengthen the Cabinet and the government, transforming them into bodies that will act together in harmony and cooperation for the security of the State of Israel, for the citizens of the State of Israel and for our victory,” Netanyahu stressed.
One of the first reactions to this adjustment within the Israeli cabinet was precisely that of Gallant, who in his official profile on the social network “the main “mission” of his life.
On the other hand, the Minister of National Security, the ultranationalist Itamar Ben Gvircongratulated Netanyahu for making the decision to do without Gallant, under whose leadership he believes that “it is not possible to achieve a complete victory.” “The Prime Minister did the right thing to dismiss him from office,” he stressed.
Gallant’s dismissal is a topic that has been brewing for several weeks in Israeli politics due to differences with Netanyahu and which the prime minister himself has now acknowledged. Gallant has been more inclined to reach agreements with Hamas to result in the release of the hundred or so hostages still held in Gaza, while the rest of the Cabinet advocates a more belligerent stance.
Another key issue when understanding Gallant’s expulsion is ultra-Orthodox recruitment, an issue that divides the government. The former minister assured this afternoon that this part of the population must carry out their military service taking into account the needs of the IDF, even if Netanyahu finds himself in a complicated position, since his government is supported by the support of ultra-formations. orthodox.
Another of those who raised their voices was Israel Beitenu party leader Avigdor Liberman, who lamented that Netanyahu was turning the country into “a banana republic.” “Instead of ensuring the security of the country and prioritizing the safety of citizens and soldiers, the Prime Minister decided to fire the Minister of Defense and launch a new round of political appointments in the middle of war,” he lamented.
In early October last year, Hamas launched an offensive against Israeli territory that left nearly 1,200 people dead and more than 240 hostages. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) then launched a bloody military campaign in the Gaza Strip that has already cost the lives of more than 43,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
Since then, the parties have failed to reach an agreement on the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners late last year. Israeli military operations made it possible to save, in most cases, the lifeless bodies of the hostages, sparking criticism from relatives of the kidnapped people.
