In Israel, the opposition united to denounce the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant

The leaders of the opposition to Benjamin Netanyahu castigated the Israeli Prime Minister on Wednesday, November 6 for having dismissed his defense minister the day before, due to differences “politics”, while the country has been at war on several fronts for more than a year. Minister Yoav Gallant “was fired solely for political reasons”launched opposition leader Yaïr Lapid, himself briefly former prime minister, during a press conference with the three other leaders of the opposition parties.

The leader of the nationalist Israel Beiteinou party, Avigdor Lieberman, was associated for the first time with other leaders of the left or the center.

“In the middle of a war, while Israel is fighting on multiple fronts, Mr. Netanyahu is weakening and harming the army (…) simply to pass the exemption law” compulsory military service for the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, explained Mr. Lapid.

In June, the Supreme Court concluded that the exemption, dating from 1948, enjoyed by some men from this community had no legal basis. A bill must legalize these exemptions which concern around 66,000 students of Talmudic schools, while the ultra-Orthodox parties are key allies of Mr. Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition.

“All Hebrews should know that the army no longer has anyone to trust” after the departure of the minister, a former army general, he added. “The only person we could trust in this crazy government was fired yesterday”he continued, calling for legislative elections to be held.

Benny Gantz, former member of the Israeli war cabinet, lambasted “the timing of the decision” who is according to him “absolute negligence in terms of security” by denouncing a “political agreement made on the backs of our soldiers”.

“We will not allow (…) only about half of the population serves in the military and pays the price to (save) our lives to ensure the stability of the government”said the leader of the National Union (center) party.

Avigdor Lieberman, for his part, estimated that Mr. Netanyahu “dismantled Israeli society” by choosing to preserve his coalition. “Where did we see outpourings of joy yesterday? Only in Iran »he said.

Yair Golan, leader of the left-wing Labor Party, said Mr. Netanyahu had “chose his own interest over that of the citizens of Israel”believing that he was “unfit” et “illegitimate” as prime minister.