Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu fires Defence Minister Gallant citing lack of trust

Thousands of Israelis took to the streets last night to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to sack Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Some protesters broke through a police fence and started walking towards Netanyahu’s home. Demonstrators were calling for a… pic.twitter.com/uhs6SMJkn7

— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) November 6, 2024

Netanyahu appointed Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, to succeed Gallant as Defence Minister, while Gideon Saar becomes the new Foreign Minister, Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

Gallant and Netanyahu, both in the right-wing Likud party, have clashed for months over the objectives of Israel’s 13-month-old war in Gaza, against Palestinian group, Hamas.

Netanyahu said that, beyond differing opinions, a “crisis of trust gradually opened […] and this crisis does not allow for the normal continuation of the management of the campaign.

“In light of this, I decided today to terminate the terms of office of the Minister of Defence,” he said in a statement.

Netanyahu added that he had tried to bridge the gaps but they “kept getting wider” and became public. “Worse than that, they came to the knowledge of the enemy and our enemies enjoyed it and derived a lot of benefit from it.”

Netanyahu said such gaps were accompanied by statements and actions that “contradict the decisions of the government and the decisions of the cabinet”.

In response, Gallant said: “The security of the state of Israel always was and will always remain my life’s mission.”

For months, there had been open disagreements between Netanyahu and Gallant, reflecting a wider split between Israel’s right-wing governing coalition and the military, which has long favoured reaching a deal to end the fighting and bring home scores of hostages held by Hamas.

Gallant said the war lacked clear direction, while Netanyahu reiterated that fighting could not cease until Hamas was wiped out as a governing entity and military force in Gaza.

Shortly before the Gaza conflict erupted, Netanyahu dismissed Gallant due to disagreements over the government’s plans to overhaul Israel’s judicial system but, after mass protests, the Prime Minister reinstated him.

Thousands of Israelis took to the streets last night to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to sack Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Some protesters broke through a police fence and started walking towards Netanyahu’s home. Demonstrators were calling for a ceasefire deal that would bring home the captives held in Gaza. Netanyahu sacked Gallant as Americans went to the polls to choose their next president.

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