The Prime Minister of the Hebrew State, Benjamin Netanyahu, decides to dismiss his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, following numerous disagreements for some time, notably on the offensive in the Gaza Strip.
He was an important man in the Netanyahu government. On numerous occasions he spoke to express his opinions, often different from his Prime Minister. Differences over the conduct of the war in the Gaza Strip and the safe return of the hostages, still held by Hamas. This Tuesday, November 5, the Minister of Defense was fired. In his place is Israel Katz, current Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“In the midst of war, trust is more than ever required between the Prime Minister and his Minister of Defense” more “in recent months, this confidence has eroded”Mr. Netanyahu said in a letter addressed to Mr. Gallant. “Significant differences emerged […]accompanied by statements and actions that contradicted the decisions of the government and the cabinet”he added.
The last thing the State of Israel needs right now is an upheaval and a rupture in the middle of the war. The security of the State of Israel must be above all considerations.
101 abductees are still in enemy captivity this evening. Thousands of bereaved girls and family members mourn their shattered world. Many reservists bear the burden of protecting the people and the homeland and cry out together with their families…
— Isaac Herzog Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) https://twitter.com/Isaac_Herzog/status/1853916996578238838?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, warned him through a publication on Xagainst a “upheaval” in the country, at war for more than a year, and called for “responsibility” of each.
“It combines responsibility and qualities of resolution”
A United States spokesperson told him that Yoav Gallant was, for the country, a “important partner on all matters related to the defense of Israel”. “We will continue to work with the next Israeli defense minister.”he assured. For his part, the Prime Minister clarified to him that Mr. Katz “combines the responsibility and calm problem-solving qualities that are essential to leading this campaign.
The principal concerned responded on “The security of Israel has been and will remain my life’s mission”. A former general turned politician, he was considered a “hawk” within the government in the conduct of operations since the bloody attack of October 7, 2023, thus triggering the war in Gaza.
A not really unexpected layoff
According to political analyst Aviv Bushinsky, Mr. Netanyahu's former chief of staff, Mr. Gallant's dismissal was just a “question of time”. “Maybe Netanyahu fears a Democratic victory” in the United States, which would have made “more complicated” such action. Comments published by our colleagues at Monde.
M. Netanyahu sent “comforted by the improvement in his rating in the polls” et “also take advantage of the fact that the world’s attention is elsewhere” with the American presidential election, estimates Jonathan Rynhold, director of the political studies department at Bar Ilan University.
