Israel in revolt over Israel Katz, Gideon Sa’ar appointments – Israel Politics

On By Littum

After the uproar that began with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dismissal of outgoing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday night, the Knesset approved new cabinet appointments in a rare Thursday plenary session.

Israel Katz has been appointed as Minister of Defence, and Gideon Sa’ar as Minister of Foreign Affairs. In addition, Ze’ev Elkin’s appointment as minister was also approved in plenary.

The session, which began at approximately 20.00 and lasted until after 01.00, caused members of the Knesset from all sides to hurl insults and attacks at each other.

During Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s speech against the opposition, opposition leader Yair Lapid shouted at him, calling him: “Married, draft dodger, absolutely zero.”

A total of 58 Knesset members supported the new appointments without opposition, as every opposition member chose to leave the plenum as a show of demonstration for Gallant’s dismissal.

An uproar in the Knesset (credit: KNESSET CHANNEL)

Storm on social media

Likud member Tali Gottlieb attacked Gallant on social media after the news of his firing and supported Netanyahu’s election.

“A security minister with defeatist statements, with statements that undermine the Prime Minister during war, must go,” she wrote on X/Twitter on Tuesday.

Katz’s appointment caused a storm in Israeli society with mass protests and another ‘gallant night’ across the country as many unhappy citizens took to social media to express their disapproval.

“I thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for the trust he placed in me by appointing me to the position of Minister of Defense,” Katz wrote.

“I accept this responsibility with a sense of mission and holy fear for the safety of the State of Israel and its citizens.”

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“It’s like that time Caligula made a horse his consul,” replied one user.

Lloyd Austin

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed his gratitude to Gallant for his service and said he looked forward to “having the same good partnership and working relationship with Israel’s next defense minister.”