Israel’s PM Netanyahu dismisses Defence Minister Yoav Gallant

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in a surprise announcement made Tuesday evening, citing “crisis of trust”.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz will replace Gallant, Netanyahu said, explaining that his trust in Gallant had recently “eroded”.

“In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and defence 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.”

Gideon Saar, a former Netanyahu rival who recently rejoined the government, will take the foreign affairs post.

Gallant and Netanyahu have repeatedly been at odds throughout the war against Hamas in Gaza, now in its second year, and escalating conflict with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the Iranian regime in Tehran.

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. However, Netanyahu had avoided firing his rival so far.

In response to his sacking, Gallant posted on social media on Tuesday, saying that “the security of the State of Israel always was, and will always remain, my life’s mission.”

A previous attempt to fire Gallant in March of last year sparked widespread street protests against Netanyahu, already under fire by parts of the Israeli society over his alleged mismanagement of the consequences of the Hamas 7 October attack and failed attempts to negotiate a safe return of hostages kept in Gaza.

Gallant, a former naval commando and IDF officer, has been a vocal critic of Netanyahu’s proposed judicial reforms, clashing over the matter with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Additional sources • AP