Published: 6 November 2024
Last updated: 7 November 2024
The news
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, his most trenchant opponent on the management of security and the War in Gaza.
Gallant says Netanyahu fired him because of their disagreement on three issues:
- His opposition to a law that would exempt ultra-Orthodox men from military service
- His support for a deal to release hostages held by Hamas and establish a ceasefire in Gaza
- His call for a commission of inquiry into the security failures surrounding the Oct. 7 attacks.
The context
- Gallant was a general with a long and distinguished military career. His replacement Israel Katz is a career politician with experience in foreign policy but not defence.
- Netanyahu previously attempted to fire Gallant in March 2023, after Gallant warned that disagreement over proposed reforms to the Supreme Court and other civic institutions was placing Israel’s security at risk. The sacking resulted in mass protests and Netanyahu backed down on both Gallant and some of the reforms.
- President Isaac Herzog betrayed deep concern. Without mentioning Netanyahu or Gallant he made a speech calling on leaders to act with great responsibility. “The last thing Israel needs right now is an upheaval and a rupture in the middle of the war. Israel’s security must be above all considerations,” he said.
- Gallant was the most trusted partner in the Israeli government for the Biden administration and the US has expressed deep concern about the decision, writes Barak Ravid on Axios.
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