On Tuesday, the Israeli Prime Minister fired his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Benyamin Netanyahu estimated that between them “in recent months, confidence has eroded”after disputes over the conduct of the war in Gaza and the issue of the release of hostages. He replaced him with his Foreign Affairs counterpart Israel Katz who promised to defeat the country’s “enemies”.
This is not the first time that Benyamin Netanyahu has tried to separate Yoav Gallant. He had already tried in March 2023, but gave up following strong mobilization from the Israelis. So why did he do it on Tuesday, in the middle of war and on the evening of the American presidential election?
Frédérique Schillo, historian, specialist in Israel and international relations and co-author of “The Yom Kippur War Will Not Take Place” published by Archipoche, answers your questions.
Frédérique Schillo: Already, he is doing it in the middle of war, while Israel is engaged on seven fronts. In the middle of the American election, both to divert attention, to prevent the Americans from putting pressure on him and to ask him to keep Galante who is the only man of confidence in the Israeli cabinet. And then he does it because there is deep disagreement over the conduct of the war. He is doing this because Gallant, officially, announced that he had been removed due to disputes on three files. First, his desire to prioritize an agreement to free the hostages. Gallant absolutely wanted an agreement to release the 101 hostages still held in Gaza, of whom we know that only half are still alive. Second dispute is his opposition to the law, which exempts the ultra-Orthodox from the army. We know today that the war effort relies mainly on reservists. Three-quarters of the war effort relies on reservists and there is a shortage of 20,000 soldiers. However, the far-right government is very close to the ultra-Orthodox. Netanyahu exempts 66,000 ultra Orthodox, that represents 105 battalions. And today, the government wanted to make a law that would continue the exemption and Gallant was opposed to it. And the third dispute is the request for the creation of a commission of inquiry into October 7, which would examine both military and political responsibilities in the failures of October 7. Netanyahu absolutely refuses to take responsibility.
The same day, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to protest against this eviction. Israelis seem to massively disapprove of this decision by Benyamin Netanyahu. However, does this decision put the Prime Minister in difficulty politically, who has seen his popularity increase over the past month?
Frédérique Schillo: It is true that his popularity is increasing, but this is entirely contextual because today the IDF is recording victories on the ground. But they say that victory has its godfather and defeat is an orphan. Netanyahu would like Israelis to believe that October 7 is the defeat of the military and that he is the father of victory. The Israelis are not fooled. The decision to fire Gallant was met with total disapproval because 56% of Israelis opposed his decision and 66% considered it to be politically motivated. What is behind this dismissal? Both questions about the conduct of the war, but also, more profoundly, a deep disagreement between Netanyahu and the military. This also comes at a time when there are a series of scandals involving Netanyahu and his entourage. Of the systematic leaks of secret defense documents were organized. Once again, leaks to overwhelm the defense and security services and to exonerate Benyamin Netanyahu.
What can we expect now with the new Defense Minister Israel Katz, also close to Netanyahu?
Frédérique Schillo: He is close to Netanyahu and has absolutely no experience in military affairs. The former businesswoman of Ofer Calderon, a Franco-Israeli hostage who is still in Gaza, said yesterday that allowing Israel Katz to be in Defense was “letting a truck driver pilot a plane hunting”. The Israelis are very suspicious and fearful for the fate of the hostages and for the conduct of the war. Israel Katz is considered a “yes man”. The dispute will continue with Defense officials. For what? Because the IDF considers that the war in Gaza is over. Hamas is defeated and today the general staff says “mission accomplished”. Mission accomplished because we cannot go beyond. And besides, the IDF spokesperson already said it in June, the total eradication of Hamas is illusory. This is throwing dust in the eyes of public opinion. It was also sharply reframed at that time by the Prime Minister and his entourage. But the military says mission accomplished and they want to convert the tactical military victory on the ground into a political and diplomatic success. But Netanyahu, neither yesterday, nor today, nor perhaps not tomorrow, offers a solution for the post-Hamas period, for the post-war period in Gaza.
