Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Israel's Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 29 mins ago on
November 5, 2024

Netanyahu cites "significant gaps" and a "crisis of trust" as reasons for dismissing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant amid ongoing conflicts. (AP/Gil Cohen-Magen)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday dismissed his popular defense minister, Yoav Gallant, in a surprise announcement that came as the country is embroiled in wars on multiple fronts across the region.

Netanyahu and Gallant have repeatedly been at odds over the war in Gaza. But Netanyahu had avoided firing his rival. Netanyahu cited “significant gaps” and a “crisis of trust” between the men in his Tuesday evening announcement.

“In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and defense minister,” Netanyahu said. “Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defense minister.”

Early Unity Gives Way to Policy Differences

In the early days of the war, Israel’s leadership presented a unified front as it responded to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack. But as the war dragged on and spread to Lebanon, key policy differences have emerged. While Netanyahu has called for continued military pressure on Hamas, Gallant had taken a more pragmatic approach, saying that military force has created the necessary conditions for a diplomatic deal that could bring home hostages held by the militant group.

Gallant, a former general who has gained public respect with a gruff, no-nonsense personality, said in a statement: “The security of the state of Israel always was, and will always remain, my life’s mission.”

Gallant has worn a simple, black buttoned shirt throughout the war in a sign of sorrow over the Oct. 7 attack and developed a strong relationship with his U.S. counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Previous Attempts to Dismiss Gallant

A previous attempt by Netanyahu to fire Gallant in March 2023 sparked widespread street protests against Netanyahu. He also flirted with the idea of dismissing Gallant over the summer but held off until Tuesday’s announcement.

Gallant will be replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, a Netanyahu loyalist and veteran Cabinet minister who was a junior officer in the military. Gideon Saar, a former Netanyahu rival who recently rejoined the government, will take the foreign affairs post.

Netanyahu’s History of Neutralizing Rivals

Netanyahu has a long history of neutralizing his rivals. In his statement, he claimed he had made “many attempts” to bridge the gaps with Gallant.

“But they kept getting wider. They also came to the knowledge of the public in an unacceptable way, and worse than that, they came to the knowledge of the enemy – our enemies enjoyed it and derived a lot of benefit from it,” he said.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

These 8 Counties Could Hint at Where the Election Is Headed

DON'T MISS

Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement

DON'T MISS

Cryptocurrency Markets, Promoted by Trump, Brace for Election Volatility

DON'T MISS

Trump, Vance and Allies Hurl Insults at Women as Race Ends

DON'T MISS

NFL Trade Deadline: Lions Get Za’Darius Smith, Cowboys Add Jonathan Mingo

DON'T MISS

Palestinians in Gaza Fear Neither Candidate in US Election Will Help Them

DON'T MISS

Pennsylvania Election Officials Weighing in on Challenges to 4,300 Mail Ballot Applications

DON'T MISS

Ukrainian Troops Have Engaged With North Korean Units for the 1st Time in Russia, an Official Says

DON'T MISS

Clovis Unified Candidate Vue Says Voicemail Claiming Fraud Is Defamatory

DON'T MISS

Middle East Latest: Dozens Killed in Gaza as Israel Says It Targeted a Weapons Facility

UP NEXT

Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement

UP NEXT

Cryptocurrency Markets, Promoted by Trump, Brace for Election Volatility

UP NEXT

Trump, Vance and Allies Hurl Insults at Women as Race Ends

UP NEXT

NFL Trade Deadline: Lions Get Za’Darius Smith, Cowboys Add Jonathan Mingo

UP NEXT

Palestinians in Gaza Fear Neither Candidate in US Election Will Help Them

UP NEXT

Pennsylvania Election Officials Weighing in on Challenges to 4,300 Mail Ballot Applications

UP NEXT

Ukrainian Troops Have Engaged With North Korean Units for the 1st Time in Russia, an Official Says

UP NEXT

Clovis Unified Candidate Vue Says Voicemail Claiming Fraud Is Defamatory

UP NEXT

Middle East Latest: Dozens Killed in Gaza as Israel Says It Targeted a Weapons Facility

UP NEXT

Dak Prescott Likely out 4+ Games as Cowboys Place QB on IR With Hamstring Injury

Trump, Vance and Allies Hurl Insults at Women as Race Ends

40 mins ago

NFL Trade Deadline: Lions Get Za’Darius Smith, Cowboys Add Jonathan Mingo

1 hour ago

Palestinians in Gaza Fear Neither Candidate in US Election Will Help Them

1 hour ago

Pennsylvania Election Officials Weighing in on Challenges to 4,300 Mail Ballot Applications

2 hours ago

Ukrainian Troops Have Engaged With North Korean Units for the 1st Time in Russia, an Official Says

2 hours ago

Clovis Unified Candidate Vue Says Voicemail Claiming Fraud Is Defamatory

2 hours ago

Middle East Latest: Dozens Killed in Gaza as Israel Says It Targeted a Weapons Facility

2 hours ago

Dak Prescott Likely out 4+ Games as Cowboys Place QB on IR With Hamstring Injury

2 hours ago

Tropical Storm Rafael Chugs Past Jamaica as Cuba Prepares for Another Hurricane Hit

2 hours ago

The Latest: Trump and Harris Cede Stage to Voters Who’ll Also Decide Control of House and Senate

2 hours ago

These 8 Counties Could Hint at Where the Election Is Headed

When the polls close Tuesday, we will be watching, of course, for statewide outcomes in the presidential battlegrounds. But as we wait for c...

39 seconds ago

Residents vote early in Dearborn, Mich., Nov. 3, 2024. While the nation awaits statewide results after the polls close on Election Day, a number of counties could provide hints on where the race is headed. (Nick Hagen/The New York Times)
40 seconds ago

These 8 Counties Could Hint at Where the Election Is Headed

29 mins ago

Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement

33 mins ago

Cryptocurrency Markets, Promoted by Trump, Brace for Election Volatility

40 mins ago

Trump, Vance and Allies Hurl Insults at Women as Race Ends

1 hour ago

NFL Trade Deadline: Lions Get Za’Darius Smith, Cowboys Add Jonathan Mingo

1 hour ago

Palestinians in Gaza Fear Neither Candidate in US Election Will Help Them

2 hours ago

Pennsylvania Election Officials Weighing in on Challenges to 4,300 Mail Ballot Applications

2 hours ago

Ukrainian Troops Have Engaged With North Korean Units for the 1st Time in Russia, an Official Says

Search

Send this to a friend