Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, after differences over the conduct of the war in Gaza, and replaced him with his Foreign Affairs counterpart Israel Katz who promised to defeat the “enemies” of the country.
“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”said Benjamin Netanyahu in a letter addressed to Yoav Gallant. “Significant differences emerged (…) in the conduct of the (military) campaign, accompanied by statements and actions that contradicted the decisions of the government and cabinet”he added.
Replaced by “the bulldozer”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has warned of a “upheaval” in the country at war for more than a year and called for ” responsibility “. “The last thing the State of Israel needs right now is upheaval and rupture in the middle of war”he said on X.
Yoav Gallant was for the United States a “important partner on all matters related to the defense of Israel”greeted a spokesperson for the State Department. “ We will continue to work with the next Israeli Defense Minister”he assured.
Benjamin Netanyahu chose the head of diplomacy Israel Katz, nicknamed the « bulldozer »to replace Yoav Gallant. Serving in the security cabinet, Israel Katz “combines the responsibility and calm problem-solving qualities that are essential to leading this campaign”said the Prime Minister.
« We will work together to lead the Department of Defense to victory against the enemy and to achieve the objectives of the war: the return of the hostages, the destruction of Hamas, the defeat of Hezbollah, the containment of Iranian aggression and the safe return home of the inhabitants of the north and south (of Israel)”assured Israel Katz on X. Gideon Saar, current minister without portfolio, succeeds Israel Katz.
The conscription that does not pass
Yoav Gallant had established himself as a leading figure in Israel's war against Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. But he attracted the wrath of the ultra-Orthodox parties, key allies of the Prime Minister's coalition, by ordering the conscription of 10,000 men from this religious community who had until then benefited from an exemption under a rule established to the creation of Israel in 1948. In 2018, the question of their conscription had created a crisis precipitating the country into several legislative elections.
Benjamin Netanyahu a “well done” to dismiss Yoav Gallant, reacted the Minister of Internal Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, of the far right. Yoav Gallant also pleaded for a truce with Hamas with a view to obtaining the release of hostages still held in Gaza since the unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement on October 7, 2023 against Israel, while the objective hammered out by Benjamin Netanyahu is an annihilation of this formation.
Israel must ensure return of hostages held in captivity “as quickly as possible” et “as long as they are alive”even at the cost of “painful compromise”Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday, after being fired. “Our moral and ethical duty is to bring back (…) those kidnapped by Hamas. We need to do this as quickly as possible and while they are alive.”he argued during a televised speech. “It is possible to bring back the hostages, but that includes painful compromises”he continued.
Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening to demonstrate against the dismissal of Yoav Gallant, and to ask his successor Israel Katz to prioritize an agreement on the return of hostages still held in Gaza. Yoav Gallant was “the only normal person in government”said Samuel Miller, a 54-year-old teacher, criticizing the government for opening “new fronts to unjustified wars”.
The Families Forum, the main association of relatives of hostages, said “deeply worried” of the ouster of Yoav Gallant, calling on Israel Katz to “prioritize” to an agreement for the release of captives in Gaza. Of 251 people kidnapped on October 7, 2023, 97 remain hostages in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the army.
“A question of time”
According to political analyst Aviv Bushinsky, former chief of staff to Benjamin Netanyahu, the firing of Israel Gallant was just a “question of time”. “Maybe Netanyahu fears a Democratic victory” in the United States, which would have made “more complicated” such a dismissal.
Benjamin Netanyahu se sent “reinforced by the improvement in his rating in the polls”et “also take advantage that the world’s attention is elsewhere” with the American election, judge Jonathan Rynhold, director of the department of political studies at Bar Ilan University.
Israel vowed to destroy Hamas after its October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli data, including hostages killed or died in captivity.
The Israeli offensive launched in retaliation in Gaza left 43,391 dead, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health and caused a humanitarian disaster. On Tuesday, the Israeli army carried out new deadly strikes on the besieged Palestinian territory and in Lebanon.
