Israeli PM Netanyahu Fires Defense Minister Gallant, Pentagon Says Ready to ‘Work Closely’ With Replacement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, citing a lack of trust as Israel continued its military operations against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“Unfortunately, over the past months, the trust between me and the minister of defense has been broken,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “There were significant gaps regarding the management of the [military] campaign, and these gaps were accompanied by statements and actions that contradicted the decisions of the government.”

The premier added, “I have made multiple attempts to resolve these disagreements, but they became increasingly wider. They were also brought to the knowledge of the public in an inappropriate manner, and what is even worse, they have reached the knowledge of the enemy; our enemies have taken great delight in these disagreements and have derived much benefit from them.”

עדכון חשוב ממני אליכם >> pic.twitter.com/YlpNkaljRb

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 5, 2024

In a letter reported by Israel’s Channel 12, Netanyahu told Gallant that his dismissal would be effective 48 hours after delivery of the note. “I would like to thank you for your work as defense minister,” the premier wrote.

Netanyahu appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz to succeed Gallant as defense minister, and Gideon Saar will become the new foreign minister.

According to Channel 12, Netanyahu and Katz are expected to move to replace Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and other senior Israeli security officials.

In response to Netanyahu’s announcement, the US Defense Department said on Tuesday that Gallant has been a “trusted partner” and that it will “continue to work closely” with Israel‘s next defense minister.

“America’s commitment to Israel‘s security remains ironclad, and the US Department of Defense will continue to work closely with Israel’s next minister of defense,” Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder said in a statement.

Gallant responded to his firing on X/Twitter with a brief post: “The security of the State of Israel was and will always remain the mission of my life.”

The government shakeup came amid not only Israel’s ongoing military campaigns against Hamas and Hezbollah but also the looming threat of another direct attack from the Islamist terror groups’ chief backer, Iran.

Last Sunday, Gallant said in remarks to a memorial ceremony in Jerusalem that Iran was no longer able to effectively use its proxies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon against Israel.

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