5/11/2024–|Last updated: 11/5/202410:14 PM (Mecca time)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the dismissal of the Minister of Defense in place of Yoav Gallant, and the appointment of Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz in his place as the new Minister of Defense in Israel, and he also appointed Gideon Saar as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Netanyahu justified his decision to dismiss Gallant by the crisis of trust that gradually arose between them, and did not allow for normal management of the war, noting that “the crisis of trust that occurred between me and the Minister of Defense did not make it possible to continue managing the war in this way.”
Netanyahu added that he is confident that this step will make the Cabinet more harmonious.
Israeli Channel 12 said that the dismissal call between Netanyahu and Gallant lasted only 3 minutes.
The Walla website quoted people close to Netanyahu as saying that the prime minister also intends to dismiss the army chief of staff and the head of the Shin Bet.
This is the second time that Netanyahu has fired his Defense Minister Yoav Galant. He was dismissed about a year and a half ago against the backdrop of controversial judicial amendments, but he was forced to retract the dismissal decision after massive demonstrations took place in Israel denouncing the dismissal decision, in which hundreds of thousands of Israelis participated.
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Shortly after announcing his dismissal, hundreds took to the streets in Tel Aviv to protest the dismissal decision, and protesters closed the Ayalon axis in Greater Tel Aviv.
In his first comment on the decision to dismiss him, Gallant said that the security of the State of Israel was and will remain his mission in life.
For his part, former member of the Israeli War Council, Benny Gantz, said that Gallant’s dismissal is the dismissal of politics at the expense of state security.
As for the head of the “Israel Our Home” party, Avigdor Lieberman, he said that if it is permissible to replace the Minister of Defense in the midst of a war, it is also possible to replace the Prime Minister.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority also quoted security officials as saying, “Dismissing Gallant at this time is an irresponsible decision while we await an attack from Iran.”
It quoted a security source as saying that Netanyahu chose politics instead of state security.
A senior official told the Israeli Broadcasting Authority that trust is important, but dismissing a defense minister at this time is completely inappropriate.
In turn, the Association of Families of Israeli Prisoners in Gaza considered Galant’s dismissal Represent In continuation of Netanyahu’s efforts to thwart efforts to return the kidnapped people.
The head of the Israeli Democratic Party, Yair Golan, called on the Israelis to take to the streets following the dismissal of the Defense Minister.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted a senior official as saying that Gallant was sacrificed on the altar of the draft exemption law.
On the other hand, Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir congratulated Netanyahu on the decision to dismiss Gallant, stressing that complete victory could not be achieved with him.
The American position
There has been no comment yet from the US administration – which is busy with the decisive presidential elections that began hours ago – but – earlier – Israeli officials quoted US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan describing the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Galant during the war as… Crazy.
Haaretz also quoted a source in the US administration as saying that Washington would find “a way to deal with anyone who holds the position of Defense Minister in Israel,” and indicated that Sa’ar would not enjoy the same close relationship with Washington that Gallant enjoyed.
Road closures near Netanyahu’s headquarters
While they appear to be preparing for demonstrations rejecting the dismissal decision; Israeli media published scenes of the Israeli occupation police closing roads and diverting traffic on Gaza Street near the headquarters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem after the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Galant.
Israeli Channel 12 said: “In preparation for the expected protest in front of the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem,… Police Barriers and forces have already been sent to the place.”
