Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday fired Defense Minister Yoav Galant, citing a breach of trust. He is said to be preparing to dismiss the heads of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA).
According to Prime Minister Netanyahu's Times of Israel newspaper, fired He bravely handed over his notice of dismissal in person at the prime minister's office.
Prime Minister Netanyahu later released a video explaining his decision, citing a loss of trust over time and Gallant's actions contrary to government policy, which made it impossible for him to continue in office. .
The dismissal was not unexpected; Prime Minister Netanyahu fired Gallant in 2023 for insubordination, but Gallant has used Netanyahu's brief absence to reform his proposed judicial reforms. expressed opposition.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later reversed his decision, but Mr. Gallant led Israel's war effort and was one of the most widely respected members of the government. But Gallant remained a political opponent, often speaking out in favor of hostage deals with Hamas, even when he was getting nothing, which signaled support for Israeli rebels.
The news comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing back against claims that the prime minister's office leaked confidential information to the media. The investigation is being managed by the IDF and ISA, and details of the investigation are kept confidential. Columnist Carolyn Glick Likened to Security authorities' actions in response to an attempted “military coup” in Israel.
Glick said Israel's defense establishment and legal community, which have never liked Netanyahu, are using the temporary distraction of the US election to oust him before Donald Trump has a chance of winning. He said he was thinking of doing so.
All these plots were carried out against the backdrop of a possible missile attack by Iran. Iran has said it will continue its attacks on Israel despite Israel's successful retaliation for Iran's previous attack last month.
Prime Minister Netanyahu appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz to replace Gallant, who was replaced by Foreign Ministry's Gideon Saar. Saar, a former critic of Netanyahu, has made amends and recently joined Netanyahu's government.
Israeli rebels have increased their firing and demonstrators took to the streets on Tuesday night. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition supported the move. The political and broader security implications are unclear.
update: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a translation of his remarks explaining the decision to fire Gallant.
My primary duty as Prime Minister of Israel is to maintain Israel's security and achieve complete victory.
In the midst of war, more than ever, complete trust is required between the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence.
Unfortunately, despite the fact that such trust existed during the first months of the military operation and we had very productive cooperation, over the past few months the relationship between myself and the Minister of Defence. Cracks are beginning to appear in this trust.
Minister of Defense Galland and I had significant disagreements regarding the management of military operations, which were accompanied by public statements and actions contrary to the decisions of the Government and the Security Cabinet.
I have tried many times to resolve these disagreements, but they just keep getting bigger and bigger. They also inappropriately became known to the public and, worse, to the enemy. Our enemies revel in these disagreements and derive much benefit from them.
As anyone who knows me can attest, open discussion and exchange of ideas is how I debate, consult, and make decisions. Everyone knows that. However, it has become widely known that the relationship of trust between me and the Minister of Defense is increasingly at risk, and that crisis is preventing the continued proper management of military operations.
I'm not alone in this opinion. The vast majority of members, virtually everyone, both in the government and in the security cabinet, share the feeling that this situation cannot continue.
Based on the above, I have decided today to dismiss the Minister of Defense. In his place, I have chosen to appoint Minister Israel Katz to this position. Mr. Israel Katz has proven himself, serving national security for five years as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, Minister of Information, and as a long-standing member of the equally important National Security Cabinet. .
Israel Katz brings a great combination of experience and management ability. He is known as a man of action with a sense of responsibility and modest decisiveness, all of which are important qualities in driving military operations forward.
I also spoke today with Minister Gideon Saar and proposed that he join his faction in a coalition government and serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs. As a long-time member of the Government and Security Cabinet, Gideon Saar brings a wealth of policy and security experience and insight that will be an important addition to our leadership team.
The addition of Gideon Saar and his faction will increase the stability of the coalition and government, which is an important element at any time, but is especially important in times of war. I am confident that these measures will strengthen the government and the Security Cabinet and transform it into an organization that works cooperatively and harmoniously for the State of Israel, the Israeli people, and for our victory.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday Sunday nights from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM PT) on Sirius XM Patriot. he is the author of Agenda: What should President Trump do in his first 100 days?available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of Trumpian Virtues: Lessons and Legacy of the Donald Trump Presidencynow available on Audible. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpolak.
