Netanyahu fired Israel’s defense minister, sparking protests across the country

Josef Federman, Associated Press

JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Fired his popular defense minister, Yoav Gallant, on Tuesday in a surprise announcement that comes as the country is embroiled in wars on multiple fronts across the region. The move sparked protests across the country, including a mass gathering that paralyzed central Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu and Gallant have repeatedly clashed over the war in the Gaza Strip. But Netanyahu avoided sacking his rival before making the move as the world’s attention focused on the US presidential election. In a statement late Tuesday, Netanyahu cited “significant gaps” and a “crisis of confidence” in replacing Gallant with a longtime loyalist.

“In the midst of war, full trust between the prime minister and the defense minister is needed more than ever,” Netanyahu said. “Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and very fruitful work was carried out, in recent months this trust between me and the Minister of Defense has cracked.”

In the early days of the war, the Israeli leadership presented a united front in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. But as the war dragged on and spread into Lebanon, key political differences emerged.

While Netanyahu called for continued military pressure on Hamas, Gallant took a more pragmatic approach, saying military force had created the necessary conditions for at least a temporary diplomatic deal it could bring home hostages held by a militant group.

In a nationally televised late-night press conference, Gallant said he disagreed with Netanyahu on three major issues: the need to end controversial military draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men, the urgent need for a hostage deal, and the need to create a formal commission of inquiry. political and security failures that occurred on October 7, when Hamas militants swept into Israel and killed 1,200 people and took another 250 hostage. Israel estimates that about 100 hostages remain in captivity, of which only about 65 are alive.

Since military service is mandatory for most Jews, Gallant said the ultra-Orthodox conscription is both a matter of justice and security at a time when Israel faces so many challenges.

He said a deal for the hostages was needed “as quickly as possible while they are still alive” and said neglecting them “will not be forgiven.” And he said a full investigation into the events of October 7 was the only way to ensure the government learned the right lessons. Netanyahu has rejected calls for an investigation, saying it should only take place after the war is over.

Gallant concluded his speech by honoring the soldiers serving in the military and those who have died in the war. He raised his hand and saluted as he left the podium.

Many families of the hostages, as well as tens of thousands of people who joined them anti-government protestsNetanyahu is accused of sabotaging the deal to maintain his power.

Netanyahu’s hardliners have threatened to overthrow the government if he makes concessions. Hamasraising the risk of early elections at a time when the prime minister’s popularity is low. This week authorities announced arrest of Netanyahu aide on suspicion of passing classified information to foreign media that provided political cover for the prime minister when hostage negotiations failed.

“Firing Gallant in the middle of a war is an act of madness,” opposition leader Yair Lapid said on X. “Netanyahu is selling the security of Israel and the soldiers of the Israeli army for the sake of shameful political survival.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzogwhose largely ceremonial position is meant to help unify the country, called the sacking “the last thing Israel needs.”

A public forum representing the families of the hostages said Gallant’s dismissal was “a direct continuation of the ‘attempts’ to disrupt the deal with the abductees.”

Within hours, thousands of protesters gathered in the center of Tel Aviv, blocking the city’s main highway and disrupting traffic. The crowd, many holding blue-and-white Israeli flags and others blowing whistles and drumming, gathered around numerous bonfires. Several thousand people demonstrated outside Netanyahu’s home in Jerusalem and other parts of the city. Protesters gathered and blocked roads in several other places across the country, and Israeli television channels showed footage of police scuffling with protesters.

The dismissal comes at a delicate moment. Israeli troops remain mired in the Gaza Strip more than a year after invading the territory in a war that has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, including tens of thousands of civilians, and caused widespread destruction while Israeli ground forces troops advance with the help of ground forces that advanced a month ago. invasion against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers died in the fighting.

Israel has also clashed with Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen and faces the possibility of another strike from Iran. Iran has vowed to retaliate for the Israeli strike in retaliation for the Oct. 1 Iranian missile attack, itself a reprisal for previous Israeli attacks on Iran-linked targets.

On Monday, Gallant announced that he had sent out thousands of conscription notices to young ultra-Orthodox men. The system of exemptions for religious figures caused widespread discontent among the secular majority, and the Israeli Supreme Court ordered the government abandon the system. Netanyahu, whose ruling coalition depends on ultra-Orthodox parties, has yet to comply with that order.

Channel 13 said Netanyahu also took advantage of the U.S. election, when America’s attention is elsewhere, to dismiss his rival.

The White House on Tuesday declined to comment on the firing but called Gallant “an important partner on all matters related to the defense of Israel.”

“As close partners, we will continue to collaborate with Israel’s next Secretary of Defense,” the White House National Security Council said.

Gallant, a former general with a gruff and serious demeanor, became the most popular public figure in the Israeli government during the war. Gallant wore a simple black button-down shirt throughout the war as a sign of grief over the October 7 attack, and he developed a strong relationship with his American colleague, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Netanyahu’s previous attempt to fire Gallant in March 2023 sparked widespread street protests against Netanyahu. He also flirted with the idea of ​​firing Gallant over the summer, but put that on hold until Tuesday’s announcement.

His replacement, Israel Katz, currently serves as foreign minister and is a longtime Netanyahu supporter and experienced cabinet minister. Katz thanked Netanyahu and promised to lead the security services to victory in wars against Israel’s enemies.

Katz, 69, was a junior military officer decades ago and has little military experience, although he was a key member of Netanyahu’s security cabinet for years. Gideon SaarNetanyahu’s former rival, who returned to government in September, will take over the foreign affairs post.

Netanyahu has a long history of neutralizing his rivals. He said in a statement that he had made “many attempts” to overcome his differences with Gallant.

“But they kept expanding,” he said. “Our enemies enjoyed it and got a lot out of it.”

Associated Press writers Eleanor H. Reich in New York and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed reporting.