Egypt Daily News – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing a “crisis of trust” between them.
Netanyahu’s statement indicated that his confidence in Gallant had significantly declined over recent months, leading to the decision to appoint Foreign Minister Israel Katz as Gallant’s replacement.
In a social media post, Gallant expressed his lifelong commitment to Israel’s security, emphasizing it as his primary mission.
Netanyahu elaborated that in times of war, it is crucial for the Prime Minister and Defense Minister to have complete trust in one another. He noted that while their working relationship had been productive early on, it deteriorated with “significant gaps” emerging in their management of military operations.
These gaps, according to Netanyahu, were exacerbated by Gallant’s statements and actions that conflicted with government decisions, which Netanyahu argued could be advantageous to their enemies.
Despite Netanyahu’s efforts to mend the relationship, he stated that the differences only widened.
Gallant’s dismissal is not without precedent; the two leaders have had a tumultuous history, including a previous firing of Gallant in March 2022 over disagreements related to judicial reforms, which Netanyahu had to reverse due to widespread public protests.
Recently, Gallant had also publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s lack of a clear post-war strategy for Gaza, seeking reassurances from Netanyahu that Israel would not assume control over Gaza’s governance. This request highlighted existing divisions within Israel’s leadership regarding military strategy.
