Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and changed him with Israel’s prime diplomat Israel Katz over lack of belief on Tuesday.
“Over the past few months that trust has eroded. In light of this, I decided today to end the term of the defense minister,” Netanyahu stated in a press release issued by his workplace, including that he had appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz to take his place.
Netanyahu and Gallant have repeatedly been at odds all through the conflict in Gaza. But Netanyahu had averted firing his rival.
A earlier try to fireplace Gallant in March 2023 sparked widespread avenue protests in opposition to Netanyahu.
According to a press release from Netanyahu’s workplace, Gideon Sa’ar, the chief of the National Right Party, has been appointed international minister rather than Israel Katz.
In his first response, Gallant remarked on X: “The security of the State of Israel has been and will always be my life’s mission.”
Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Netanyahu knowledgeable Gallant of his dismissal simply 10 minutes earlier than the official announcement.
Opposition chief Benny Gantz, head of the Israel Resilience Party, additionally commented on X, stating: “Politics at the expense of national security.”
Meanwhile, Yair Golan, the chief of the Israeli Democratic Party, issued a name on X, urging folks to protest within the streets following Gallant’s dismissal.
For his half, opposition chief Yair Lapid wrote on X: “Firing Gallant in the middle of the war is an act of madness, I call on the Israelis to take to the streets tonight in protest.”
Separately, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised Netanyahu’s determination to dismiss Gallant, stating on X that the prime minister did effectively to take away him from his place.
Netanyahu can also be reportedly contemplating the dismissal of army and Shin Bet chiefs.
According to the Israeli day by day Haaretz, a supply near Netanyahu stated he’s contemplating firing the military and Shin Bet chiefs.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that “Netanyahu is reportedly considering replacing IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar in the near future.”
“However, a senior official close to Netanyahu said, ‘We are not there yet,’ but did not rule out such moves down the line,'” it added.
Source: www.dailysabah.com