Netanyahu, don’t fire Gallant: The first time was tragedy, the second time could be worse

While nobody as of this writing has confirmed it, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is widely reported to have made the decision to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and replace him with a former minor rival and relentless critic, Gideon Sa’ar.

The “green light” has been given, according to the reporting on Channel 12’s main news broadcast. Even as Netanyahu sat together with Gallant earlier Monday at a highly sensitive security meeting, it said, the prime minister’s aides were passing him scraps of paper with updates on the progress toward finalizing terms with Sa’ar. Kan News said the announcement could come within hours.

Netanyahu’s endlessly bitter relationship with Gallant is public knowledge. He fired the defense minister in March 2023, after Gallant presciently warned the nation that the coalition’s bid to destroy judicial independence was weakening Israel and emboldening its enemies — and reinstated him two weeks later, after a vast public outcry.

Fossil

Article URL : https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-dont-fire-gallant-the-first-time-was-tragedy-the-second-time-could-be-worse/