Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahusacked his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, on Tuesday. He appointed as his replacement the hitherto foreign ministerIsrael Katz. This is not the first time Netanyahu has fired Gallant. as defense minister; he already did so in March 2023.
At the time, Gallant had publicly warned publicly that internal divisions over the government’s proposed judicial reforms were so serious that they could embolden Israel’s adversaries and endanger national security. That year, though Netanyahu announced Gallant’s dismissal, he later reversed the decision after several protests. public.
Both belong to the right-wing Likud party and wear months at loggerheads over the goals of the offensive. Israel has been conducting a thirteen-month military offensive on Gaza against Hamas and in Lebanon vs. Hezbollah.
This time, Netanyahu has formalized Gallant’s dismissal with an official letter. But why? What are the reasons for the dismissal?
The reasons, according to Netanyahu
The prime minister explained that he has recalled Gallant because of a “crisis of confidence.” In a lengthy statement, stated that his confidence in him had “eroded.” in recent months. “In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and the defense minister,” Netanyahu said.
The Israeli leader assured that there are “significant gaps” between Gallant and himself. in the management of the military campaign in Gaza. According to Netanyahu, “these gaps were accompanied by statements and actions that contradict government decisions and Cabinet decisions.”
“I made many attempts to close these breaches, but they kept getting bigger and bigger. They also came to the public’s attention in an unacceptable way, and worse, they came to the knowledge of the enemyThe statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said: “Our enemies enjoyed it and obtained many benefits from it”.
The reasons, according to Gallant
Gallant, a retired general with a 35-year military career, has been a key point of contact for United States during the invasion of Palestinian Gaza and Israel’s war against Hamas. It has been a close interlocutor with Washington and is said to hold daily talks with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
In a televised statement, the now former minister declared that his dismissal was due to disagreement on three issues: the issue of ultra-Orthodox military service, the abandonment of hostages in Gaza and the need for an official investigation into the Hamas attack of October 7.
On the hostages, Gallant maintains that it is possible to recover the remaining hostages in Gaza if Israel makes “painful concessions” that “can be endured”, reports The Jerusalem Post.
Netanyahu-Gallant, a difficult relationship.
In reality, Netanyahu and Gallant have never had a cordial relationship; they have often disagreed and also over the war in Gaza, reports CNN. In August, according to Israeli media, Gallant said in a closed-door meeting that the prime minister’s goal of to achieve an “absolute victory” in Gaza was “nonsense.”. Netanyahu responded by issuing a press release accusing Gallant of adopting an “anti-Israel narrative.”
Gallant also sharply criticized Netanyahu’s insistence on controlling the Gaza-Egypt border, known as the Philadelphia Corridor. He said that prioritizing their control over a cease-fire and hostage agreement was a “moral disgrace.” In the cabinet, he voted against continuing the occupation there. “If we want the hostages alive, we don’t have time,” he said.
The clash between Netanyahu and Gallant reflects a wider rift within the governing coalition. Israel’s right-wing coalition government and the military, which has long called for an agreement to end the conflict and bring home the hostages held by Hamas.
Last October 27, Gallant sent a letter to all cabinet ministers except the National Security Minister (extremist Itamar Ben Gvir). According to what was leaked to the Israeli media, the letter said that the Israeli war effort had become disfigured and was using an “obsolete compass.” based on objectives that needed to be reevaluated.
This Tuesday, in his televised statement, Gallant recaptured the metaphor. He said that “in times of darkness, one navigates according to a compass.” and added that Netanyahu was not doing so.