21.1 C
New York
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
pCloud Premium

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu ousts Yoav Gallant as Israel’s defense minister


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, a long rumored move that was announced on Election Day in the United States. Netanyahu and Gallant had repeatedly clashed over the conduct of the war in Gaza and Lebanon.

Gallant will be replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Netanyahu said in a statement. Gideon Saar, a former Netanyahu opponent, will become foreign minister and cement support for the fragile ruling coalition keeping the embattled Israeli leader in power. 

“In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and the minister of defense,” Netanyahu said. “Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the minister of defense.”

Netanyahu added that there were significant “gaps” between what the Cabinet had decided and what he termed “the campaign.” 

He added that most members of the government and the Cabinet shared a “crisis of trust” with Gallant.

Gallant, in response Tuesday, said, “The security of the State of Israel always was, and will always remain my life’s mission.”

Yoav Gallant and Benjamin Netanyahu.
Yoav Gallant, left, and Benjamin Netanyahu.Anadolu Agency via Getty Images file

Signs of strains in the Gallant-Netanyahu relationship appeared over the last months. Gallant was scheduled to meet with his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in Washington in early October — a trip Gallant initiated — but it was postponed at Netanyahu’s request.

Gallant, who has spent decades in the military, has been critical of Netanyahu’s approach to the conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah.

His firing drew immediate criticism from opposition leader Benny Gantz, who said it was “politics at the expense of national security.”

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, in a statement, expressed its “deep concern” about the decision and about how it would affect “the fate of 101 hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza for nearly 400 days.”

Netanyahu’s decision was welcomed by his ultranationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who congratulated the prime minister on the move.

“With Gallant … it is not possible to achieve absolute victory,” Ben-Gvir wrote in a post on X.

In a nationally televised statement in May, Gallant challenged Netanyahu over his refusal to discuss a cease-fire and hostage deal. He said that would force Israel to have to rule over the Palestinian enclave again. 

“We must make tough decisions for the future of our country, favoring national priorities above all other possible considerations, even with the possibility of personal or political costs,” Gallant said over the summer. 

In the days after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks, which Israeli officials say killed more than 1,200 people, Gallant announced a “complete siege” of Gaza.

“No electricity, no food, no water, no gas — it’s all closed,” Gallant said at the time, adding that his military was fighting against “human animals” in Gaza, where local officials say more than 43,000 people have been killed.

Netanyahu fired Gallant in March 2023, after he publicly disagreed with the government and pushed to stop a controversial plan to overhaul the judicial system. The move prompted mass protests and led Netanyahu to reverse the decision. 





Source link

Odisha Expo
Odisha Expohttps://www.odishaexpo.com
Odisha Expo is one of the Largest News Aggregator of Odisha, Stay Updated about the latest news with Odisha Expo from around the world. Stay hooked for more updates.

Related Articles

Stay Connected

0FansLike
0FollowersFollow
0SubscribersSubscribe
Best Lifetime Deals on SaaSspot_img

Latest Articles

'Definitely the best' – Rodgers ranks Celtic Euro win

0
Manager Brendan Rodgers says the performance, as well as the result, makes the 3-1 Champions League win over RB Leipzig the best of...

House, Senate control up for grabs in 2024 election as voters elect a new...

0
WASHINGTON — Americans are poised to elect a new Congress, with control of both chambers at stake as every seat in the House...

‌Shakib Al Hasan reported for suspect bowling during one-off County stint 

0
Shakib, who featured in his only County Championship appearance in almost 14 years, was summoned to fill the void for eight Surrey players...

Voters express deep concern about America’s democracy and economy

0
The state of democracy and the economy in the United States were the top issues on the minds of voters as they cast...

Mikel Arteta: Arsenal boss says Edu exit will not impact club’s vision

0
Edu was also heavily involved in bringing Arteta in as Arsenal manager in 2019, with the club going on to win the FA...