Netanyahu Fires Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant

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Facts

  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant — who is also a member of Netanyahu's Likud party — on Tuesday after months of disagreements between the two over the war in Gaza and Lebanon.[1]
  • Foreign Minister Israel Katz was named as the new defense minister, with Gideon Sa'ar replacing Katz. Sa'ar joined Netanyahu's government in September, though he had criticized the premier in the past.[2][3]
  • In a statement, Netanyahu said that "significant gaps on handling the war" emerged between him and Gallant, adding that "trust between the defense minister and I was damaged." Gallant said that Israel's security "was and will always remain my life's mission," without directly addressing his firing.[4]
  • Right-wing ministers in Netanyahu's cabinet welcomed the move to oust Gallant. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid condemned the move, calling it "an act of madness" to fire the defense minister during a war. Lapid also called on Israelis to protest Gallant's firing.[4][5]
  • Thousands have so far gathered in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem among other Israeli cities to protest. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called Gallant's firing "a direct continuation of efforts to sabotage a hostage deal." The families urged Katz to "explicitly commit to ending the war."[6][7]
  • Netanyahu previously sacked Gallant in March 2023, sparking widespread protests that forced Netanyahu to renege on the decision. He suggested dismissing Gallant over the summer but held off until Tuesday's announcement.[8][9]

Sources: [1]The New York Times, [2]The Jerusalem Post (a), [3]The New Arab, [4]The Times of Israel (a), [5]The Times of Israel (b), [6]MTV Lebanon, [7]The Jerusalem Post (b), [8]CBS and [9]Al Jazeera.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The New York Times. Gallant is a highly experienced military official and has shown a strong track record that demonstrates the necessity of his position in Israel's security establishment. Given the fact that the war is still ongoing, firing Gallant at such a decisive time in the conflict is clearly a political move to curb opposition to Netanyahu's plans within his government. This will prove to be disastrous.
  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by JNS. Gallant has lost much legitimacy in the eyes of those in his own party due to his constant undermining of Israel's negotiating position. Netanyahu is well within his right to sack Gallant over his incessant attacks on Israel's strategy to free hostages and destroy Hamas.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by The Palestine Chronicle. Gallant is a war criminal guilty of genocide due to his involvement in Israel's war on Gaza, and a new defense minister would have a marginal impact on the brutality under which Palestinians live. Indeed, Netanyahu wants an even more aggressive figure to take on the role of defense minister.