Government shakeup: Netanyahu fires his defense minister Gallant for second time

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a brief, three-minute conversation on Tuesday evening, before issuing a press release. 

Netanyahu began the statement by saying his "highest obligation as prime minister of Israel is to maintain Israel's security and bring us to a complete victory.” 

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

The premier said that during the first months of the war, “there was such trust and there was very fruitful work,” however, he claimed, “during the last months this trust broke between me and the minister of defense.” 

“Significant gaps were discovered between me and Gallant in the management of the campaign, and these gaps were accompanied by statements and actions that contradict the decisions of the government and the decisions of the cabinet,” Netanyahu remarked. 

Netanyahu also said that the gaps between him and Gallant “came to the knowledge of the public in an unacceptable way, and worse than that, they came to the knowledge of the enemy.” 

The prime minister announced that he is replacing Gallant with Foreign Minister Israel Katz, and that Gideon Sa’ar, who only recently joined the coalition government, would take the position of foreign minister. 

Gallant’s firing has been rumored for months, and expectation for it increased after Sa’ar joined coalition. 

Netanyahu said that Sa’ar having joined the government, along with his party, “will add to the stability of the coalition and the stability of the government, and these are very important at any time, and especially in times of war.” 

MK Zeev Elkin, of Gideon Sa'ar's party, is also expected to be appointed minister sometime in near future. 

Yoav Gallant posted a simple message to 𝕏 following his dismissal, stating, “The security of the State of Israel was and will always remain the mission of my life.” 

ביטחון מדינת ישראל היה ותמיד יישאר משימת חיי 🇮🇱🇮🇱

— יואב גלנט - Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) November 5, 2024

This firing represents the second time that Netanyahu has fired Gallant for publicly disagreeing with him. The previous time came in March 2023 during the judicial reforms, when Gallant warned that debate over the reforms could endanger the security of the nation.

After significant protests, Netanyahu relented and reinstated Gallant as defense minister.