Recap:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who will be replaced with Israel Katz, a longtime Netanyahu loyalist with limited military experience. The move comes as Israel is engaged in major conflicts on multiple fronts.
The Context:
· Gallant, who is known for wearing a black button-down shirt throughout the war as a sign of sorrow over the October 7th massacre, is among the most trusted politicians in Israel and has sharply disagreed with Netanyahu on critical military and political issues. The animosity between the two men predated the war, with Netanyahu initially attempting to fire him in March 2023, backtracking after public protests in support of Gallant shut down the country [1].
· Netanyahu cited a lack of trust and significant differences in opinion on how to proceed in Gaza and Lebanon. Gallant said his removal from office had been "the result of disagreement on three issues." Gallant believes there should be no exceptions for military service, that a national inquiry was needed to learn from October 7th, and the hostages should be brought back as soon as possible [2].
· Military exemptions for religious men have created widespread resentment in Israel, and the Supreme Court has deemed the system illegal. On Monday, Gallant sent thousands of draft notices to young ultra-Orthodox men but Netanyahu, whose governing coalition depends on ultra-Orthodox parties, has not yet implemented the order. Israel estimates that about 100 hostages remain in captivity with only about 65 of them still alive [3]. Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners have threatened to bring down the government if he makes concessions to Hamas in exchange for the hostages.
· Protesters once again took to the streets, gathering in Tel Aviv and outside Netanyahu's home in Jerusalem. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Netanyahu saying he “prefers [draft] dodgers over the those who serve [4]," while Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, whose largely ceremonial office is meant to help unify the country, called the dismissal “the last thing Israel needs [5].” Gallant developed a strong relationship with his US counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and a US spokesman called him “an important partner on all matters related to the defense of Israel [6].”
· Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi welcomed the firing of his fellow Likud member saying he had “failed to rise to the heroic spirit of our brave warriors who demand victory,” and that his departure would now clear the way for victory in Gaza [7].
Conversation Points:
· Why did Netanyahu fire Gallant on the eve of the US elections?
· Do Israel's enemies gain from its internal divisions, and if so, does this warrant a change in leadership even if the war is being effectively managed?
· Is the timing of Gallant's firing and the rising tensions between Netanyahu and his ultra-Orthodox and right-wing partners a coincidence?
· Why did Netanyahu choose to replace Gallant with someone perceived as a considerably weaker personality?
Notes:
1. Netanyahu fires Gallant amid US elections as Israel braces for Iran attack, ELIAV BREUER, TOVAH LAZAROFF, Jerusalem Post, NOVEMBER 5th, 2024
2. Protests erupt in Israel after Netanyahu fires defence minister, Jon Donnison and George Wright, BBC News, November 5th, 2024
3. Israel’s Netanyahu dismisses his defense minister as wars rage. Protests erupt across country, JOSEF FEDERMAN, AP News, November 5th, 2024.
4. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fires Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, November 5th, 2024
5. Israel’s Netanyahu dismisses his defense minister as wars rage. Protests erupt across country, JOSEF FEDERMAN, AP News, November 5th, 2024
6. Netanyahu fires Gallant amid US elections as Israel braces for Iran attack, ELIAV BREUER, TOVAH LAZAROFF, Jerusalem Post, NOVEMBER 5th, 2024
7. Netanyahu fires Gallant, says disagreements, lack of mutual trust helped the enemy, Lazar Berman, Times of Israel, November 5th, 2024
Comments