Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu sacrifices his army to the ultraorthodox

Over the past year, the two men leading Israel's war effort have struggled to conceal their contempt for each other, despite working for the same party, Likud. The decision of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on November 5 to dismiss his Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, was therefore not surprising. The latter, like security officials, wanted to end the Israeli military occupation in Gaza and conclude an agreement with Hamas to release the fifty or so hostages still alive. The head of government, tied up by his far-right allies, refuses.