More than a year after the start of the war against Hamas, the Hebrew state renews its government. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to dismiss his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday. Shortly after this announcement, hundreds of people demonstrated in Tel Aviv against the dismissal.
“In the midst of war, trust is more than ever required between the Prime Minister and his Minister of Defense” but “in recent months, this trust has been eroded,” said Benjamin Netanyahu in a letter addressed to Yoav Gallant, adding that he “chose to appoint Minister Israel Katz to replace him.”
Yoav Gallant responded on X that “the security of Israel has been and will remain the mission of (his) life.”
The United States on Tuesday welcomed Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, dismissed by his Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him an “important partner”. “Minister Gallant has been an important partner on all matters related to the defense of Israel. As close partners, we will continue to work collaboratively with Israel’s next defense minister,” a State Department spokesperson said.
The current head of diplomacy, Israel Katz, “has already demonstrated his capabilities and his contributions to national security,” wrote Benjamin Netanyahu to explain his choice.
« Bulldozer »
Israel Katz has served as finance minister, intelligence minister and served “for a long time” in the security cabinet, he said. Nicknamed the “Bulldozer,” Israel Katz “combines the responsibility and calm problem-solving qualities that are essential to leading this campaign.”
In the wake of his appointment, the families of the hostages indicated that the new Minister of Defense should, in their opinion, “give priority” to an agreement on their release.
Former general turned politician, Yoav Gallant was nevertheless considered a “hawk” within the government in the conduct of operations since the bloody attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023 on southern Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza .
The families of Israeli hostages kidnapped on October 7, 2023 and held in Gaza expressed their “deep concern” on Tuesday after the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, calling on his successor to “prioritize” an agreement to release their loved ones .
“The sudden change” at the head of Defense “could affect the fate” of the 97 hostages still being held, the Families Forum, the main association of hostage relatives, said in a press release. “We expect new Minister Israel Katz to work closely with mediators and the international community to achieve the immediate release of all hostages,” the Forum added.
“Everyone must serve”
After more than a year of war on several fronts, the army’s numbers are under pressure and in recent months, it has drawn the wrath of ultra-Orthodox parties, key allies of the Prime Minister’s coalition, by ordering conscription of 10,000 male members of this religious community of age to serve under the flag.
“Everyone must serve in the army and participate in the mission of defending the state,” Yoav Gallant said after his dismissal during a televised speech, referring to men from the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, some of whom were exempt from military service. military service until a contrary ruling by the Supreme Court in June.
They make up about 14 percent of Israel’s Jewish population, or nearly 1.3 million people, and about 66,000 military-age men receive an exemption because they dedicate themselves to the study of Judaism’s sacred texts. under a rule established at the creation of Israel in 1948. In 2018, the question of their conscription had created such a crisis that it had precipitated the country towards several legislative elections in four years, without the subject being closed.
