Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fires Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, sparking nationwide protests

On November 6, 2024By Littum

Israelis demonstrate after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, citing a lack of trust.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, a dramatic and divisive move that has sent political shock waves across Israel.
Driving the news

The abrupt decision comes as Israel struggles on multiple fronts, intensifying the conflict not only in Gaza but also across its northern border with Lebanon.
Gallant, an experienced former general, has been a central figure in Israel’s response to the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah threat in Lebanon.
His dismissal has led to mass protests, exacerbating political unrest as Israel navigates a perilous security situation on several fronts. Thousands of protesters flooded central Tel Aviv and other cities, blocking roads and lighting fires in response to what many see as a political decision that puts Netanyahu’s interests above national security.
Gallant’s dismissal came after repeated clashes with Netanyahu over Israel’s approach to the 13-month-old Gaza war and other key security issues, including the ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions and efforts to secure the return of hostages held by Hamas. Netanyahu cited a “crisis of trust” with Gallant as the reason for the firing, asserting that “full trust is required between the prime minister and the defense minister, especially during a war.” He announced the replacement of Gallant with Secretary of State Israel Katz, a close ally with limited military experience.

Why it matters

The timing and political context of Gallant’s dismissal has heightened concerns about Israel’s stability amid an intense period of conflict. Israel is currently engaged in simultaneous military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon, where ground operations have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of soldiers and severe civilian casualties. The escalation follows Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel, which left more than 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 others taken hostage. Hostilities have extended to Lebanon, where Israeli forces are clashing with Hezbollah, and Israeli operations have targeted Iran-backed groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Gallant’s pragmatic approach to the Gaza conflict contrasted with Netanyahu’s hardline stance, with Gallant advocating a temporary ceasefire to secure a hostage deal and meet Israel’s urgent security needs.
The situation also reveals fault lines in Israeli society, particularly around the issue of military exemption. Gallant has been a vocal critic of the exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men from mandatory military service, which many see as an unfair privilege that threatens Israel’s security in a time of crisis.
Gallant recently issued 7,000 additional draft orders to the ultra-Orthodox community, angering the religious parties in Netanyahu’s coalition and further isolating him politically. His dismissal has intensified long-standing debates in Israel over military service, gender equality and the priorities of Netanyahu’s coalition, which includes strong support from ultra-Orthodox parties.

What they say
“If it is possible to replace a defense minister in the middle of a war, then it is certainly possible to replace a prime minister who is unqualified to bring back the hostages,” said Einav Tzangauker, whose son is among the prisoners, in an interview with Kanal 12.
“Firing Gallant in the middle of a war is an act of madness,” opposition leader Yair Lapid said on X, adding that Netanyahu is “selling Israel’s security and the Israeli army soldiers for a disgraceful political survival.”
Speaking on national television shortly after his dismissal, Gallant stressed his dedication to Israel’s security and insisted on the need to bring hostages home. “We must do this as soon as possible while they are still alive,” he said, stressing that Israel has a “moral and ethical obligation to bring back our sons and daughters, those kidnapped by Hamas.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog also weighed in, describing Gallant’s firing as “the last thing Israel needs,” while the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a grassroots group representing hostage families, called the dismissal “a direct continuation of the “efforts” to torpedo the abduction deal .”
The White House refrained from directly criticizing Netanyahu’s decision, but highlighted the importance of Gallant in US-Israeli defense relations. A National Security Council spokesman called Gallant an “important partner” and said the United States would continue to work with Israel’s next defense minister. Gallant’s relationship with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been strong, and he is highly regarded in Washington as a no-nonsense leader. This change could strain the defense relationship between the US and Israel, especially if Gallant’s replacement proves to be less experienced in managing military operations at such a critical time.
The big picture

Gallant’s firing adds to the continued instability of Israeli politics, where Netanyahu has repeatedly faced criticism over his handling of both the war and the domestic political crisis. Earlier this year, Netanyahu had tried to fire Gallant over disagreements over proposed judicial reforms that critics said would undermine Israel’s democracy by weakening the Supreme Court.
The move sparked some of Israel’s biggest protests in recent memory, prompting Netanyahu to back down. However, tensions between Gallant and Netanyahu have never fully disappeared, and their clash over the handling of the war in Gaza and Lebanon has made Gallant’s position increasingly tenuous.
Since the start of the war, Gallant has been regarded by many Israelis as a figure of stability. He has urged Netanyahu to seek a hostage deal with Hamas, calling it crucial for both security and humanitarian reasons. The hostage issue has become a major political flashpoint in Israel, with many Israelis feeling that Netanyahu’s government has neglected the families of those captured in the October 7 attacks.
Netanyahu’s opponents claim he is hesitant to make concessions in hostage negotiations because of political pressure from his right-wing coalition partners, who are demanding a total military victory over Hamas. Hostage families and their supporters have expressed outrage at Gallant’s dismissal, with one protester saying Netanyahu is “deliberately putting Israel’s security at risk” to settle personal political matters.
Gallant’s pragmatic approach broadened his stance on the ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions, which have been a point of contention for years. Israel’s Supreme Court has ordered the government to phase out those exemptions, and Gallant’s efforts to enforce the ruling put him at odds with the ultra-Orthodox parties in Netanyahu’s coalition. The exemptions, a privilege given to ultra-Orthodox men who study religious texts instead of serving in the military, have fueled anger among secular Israelis who see them as an unfair burden. Gallant argued that the framing of the ultra-Orthodox was a matter of “justice and security” as Israel faces increasing threats from regional adversaries.

Between the lines
Gallant’s dismissal reflects Netanyahu’s long-standing pattern of removing rivals, even at politically risky moments. Israel’s political landscape is highly polarized, and Netanyahu’s hard-right coalition partners have exerted considerable pressure on him to side with Gallant, whose pragmatism often clashed with their aggressive rhetoric.
Netanyahu has relied on these ultra-Orthodox and pro-settler parties to maintain his coalition, and Gallant’s recent actions – particularly his criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of the war and the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men – made his position increasingly untenable.
Observers say Gallant’s dismissal could further destabilize Israel at a time when the country faces heightened threats from its adversaries. Gayil Talshir, a political analyst at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said Gallant’s firing was “just a matter of timing” and that Netanyahu chose a moment when the world’s attention was on the US election to avoid intense international scrutiny. Talshir warned that the timing, “on the eve of another possible attack by Iran, is the worst you could have expected.”
What’s next

With Gallant out, Netanyahu’s new defense minister, Israel Katz, will face intense pressure to reconcile Israel’s approach to the Gaza war and the hostage crisis. Katz’s lack of extensive military experience could be a disadvantage in coordinating Israel’s strategy across multiple fronts, and he may struggle to match Gallant’s popularity and influence. Katz has pledged to prioritize the return of the hostages and support Israel’s ongoing operations in Gaza, but he is seen as a Netanyahu loyalist, raising doubts about his willingness to deviate from the prime minister’s hardline approach.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s decision could backfire politically as protests continue to grow and his support declines. The political fallout could intensify calls for early elections, especially if Netanyahu’s coalition cracks under the pressure of war and the widening national divide. Critics argue that Netanyahu’s handling of both the war and his government’s internal strife is eroding Israel’s unity at a time when it is most needed, and that his focus on political survival is jeopardizing Israel’s security and international standing.
As Israel grapples with unprecedented internal divisions and multi-front conflicts, Gallant’s firing has underscored the extent to which Netanyahu’s government is willing to prioritize political loyalty over national stability.

(With input from agencies)